Rare giant squid carcass washed up on beach

The carcass of a giant squid washed up on El Sablón beach, Llanes, in northern Spain last weekend.

The giant squid ( Architeuthis dux ) , the deep-sea creature that inspired the legendary Kraken, rarely makes public appearances. The first footage of one was only captured a decade ago, and very few specimens have been found, dead or alive. The giant squid is the largest living invertebrate on Earth, with females reaching up to 40 feet (13 m) in length while males can reach around 33 feet (10 m). The Cantabrian Sea off northern Spain is one of the few places where giant squid live, making it a particular source of interest to scientists interested in studying these reclusive creatures.

Intact giant squid carcass on the beach. (Photo: Cofradia de Pescadores de Llanes).

"Giant squid have a clear sexual dimorphism. Researchers estimate the maximum weight of females to be 312kg and males to be 178kg , " Newsweek quoted Luis Laria, president of the Coordinating Council for Research and Protection of Marine Animals (CEPESMA). "Males have a shorter lifespan than females and reach sexual maturity earlier. They live about a year, while females live two to three times longer."

Although harmless to humans, giant squid cannot be eaten like their smaller cousins. This is because their muscle mass contains high levels of toxic ammonia. CEPESMA runs a giant squid museum that preserves and studies specimens that wash up on shore.

The fate of the squid that washed up on El Sablón beach is still undecided. Environmental technicians from Asturias removed the carcass shortly after it was discovered. Authorities will decide in the coming days whether to transfer it to CEPESMA .

Giant squid live at great depths below the ocean surface, often hundreds of meters, where light barely penetrates. They hunt with two long tentacles that help them grab food and bring it into their beak-like mouths, according to National Geographic. Their diet includes fish, shrimp, and other squid. Some experts believe they can even take down and eat small whales. The giant squid's eyes are among the largest in the animal kingdom, measuring 25 centimeters in diameter. This large organ allows them to detect objects and prey in pitch-black environments.