The North Atlantic ocean is particularly deep, with squid often caught near Newfoundland, Norway, the British Isles. This occurs in all of the world’s oceans, suggesting they widespread. Normally they are found in fishing nets that are deployed in deep waters. In fact, the first image of a giant squid in the wild wasn’t collected until 2004. Giant squids are deep-ocean dwellers, making them difficult study subjects. However, they are much larger than most other species. Giant squid have only been rarely observed in nature, but have many similar characteristics to other squid species. Giant squid can weigh more than 600 lb (272 kg), a staggering mass by any standard. Only the colossal squid grows larger than the giant squid, with the most recent estimates putting females at about 43 ft (13 m) long and males at about 33 ft (10 m). The mantle terminates in a spade-like shape. At the base of their tentacles the mantle begins, which is flanked by two fin-like structures that aid in mobility. They have eight arms and two longer tentacles surrounding their hard beaks and radula, a unique structure used for breaking food into pieces small enough to ingest. The Giant squid appears similar to many other more commonly observed squid species. However, the most recent genetic evidence suggests that there is only one known species, Architeuthis dux. There is some debate about the number of different species of giant squid. Indeed, the giant squid is one of the largest known invertebrate species living today, second only to the colossal squid. They are elusive and rarely observed alive, but are famous for their immense size, growing up to 43 ft (13 m) in length and weighing up to 606 lb (275 kg). The giant squid is a cephalopod species native to the deep sea.
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