Story: Octopus and squid

Colossal squid tentacles

Colossal squid have well-armoured tentacles. The photograph shows the sharp, swivelling hooks on the ends of the tentacles.

Using this item

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Reference: I.006589

Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff and Steve O’Shea, Octopus and squid – Feeding and predation, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7915/colossal-squid-tentacles (accessed 4 June 2026).

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