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Story: Octopus and squid

Colossal squid

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Colossal squid

The first intact colossal squid to be brought ashore was retrieved from the Ross Sea, south of New Zealand. The specimen, pictured here with scientist Steve O’Shea, was immature, and is probably half to two-thirds adult size.

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by Kathrin Bolstad

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff and Steve O’Shea, Octopus and squid – Squid in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7936/colossal-squid (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff and Steve O’Shea, published 2 March 2009.