A giant squid (Architeuthis dux) off Reunion Island, western Indian Ocean: the greatest giant ever?

2017/09/12 by Evgeny V. Romanov, Sébastien Jaquemet, Lara Puetz · 6 citations
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Cephalopods and Marine Biology #Ichthyology and Marine Biology #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.1017/s0025315417001588

openalex publication_date 2017/09/12 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/03

Abstract

A freshly dead individual of the giant squid Architeuthis dux , presumably mutilated by a predator of bigger or comparable size, is reported from the south-western Indian Ocean in proximity to Reunion Island. The species was identified from body and beak morphology and validated genetically. The dorsal mantle length (DML) estimated from beak measurements (lower rostral length, LRL) varied between 2153 and 3060 mm depending on the allometric equation used. The Architeuthis dux individual described here is the biggest giant squid ever reported for the region.

Citations

• Mitochondrial genome diversity and population structure of the giant squid Architeuthis : genetics sheds new light on one of the most enigmatic marine species
• Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna
• How long would it take to become a giant squid?
• Improving data quality to build a robust distribution model for Architeuthis dux
• The giant squid Architeuthis: An emblematic invertebrate that can represent concern for the conservation of marine biodiversity
• A Compilation of Recent Records of the Giant Squid,Architeuthis dux(Steenstrup, 1857) (Cephalopoda) from the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Newfoundland to the Gulf of Mexico
• Foraging ecology of Cookiecutter Sharks (Isistius brasiliensis) on pelagic fishes in Hawaii, inferred from prey bite wounds
• First-ever observations of a live giant squid in the wild
• Giant squid beaks: implications for systematics
• First report of a dead giant squid (Architeuthis dux) from an operating seismic vessel

Cited by

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• Cephalopod size [wikipedia]
• List of giant squid specimens and sightings [wikipedia]
• List of giant squid specimens and sightings (2001–2014) [wikipedia]
• List of giant squid specimens and sightings (2015–present) [wikipedia]
• List of giant squid specimens and sightings (20th century) [wikipedia]