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Story: Deep-sea creatures

Giant squid

Giant squid

This 300-kilogram female giant squid (Architeuthis species) is being examined by marine biologist Steve O’Shea. Caught on the Mernoo Bank north-east of Banks Peninsula in 1998, it measured 10 metres. Giant squid spend most of their life in deep water and can move at up to 40 kilometres per hour.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1998/0438/21

by Craig Simcox

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Paddy Ryan, Deep-sea creatures – The mesopelagic zone, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/5245/giant-squid (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Paddy Ryan, published 2 March 2009.

Comments

måtter
25 January 2011
It is an ugly squid! It is also fascinating to think that these animals live deep in our oceans, and utterly incomprehensible that they can move by up to 40 km / h! Hope I never run into this guy's cousin;)