History and Legend Behind The Giant Squid

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Throughout history and legend, people have told of a giant creature that lurked at the depth of the ocean. They have told of a massive beast, with arms 60 feet long. This creature supposedly would destroy ships and devour people whole. It was feared for centuries, and named the Kracken. Not too terribly long ago, this creature was proven by science. It was proven to be not a demon, but a species of massive Squid.
The Giant Squid is, as the name describes, a massive squid, of the genus architeuthis, which can grow up to 43 feet long, and weigh more than half a ton. Some have even reported squids that are 60 or more feet long, although squids this size have yet to be confirmed by science. Like other squids, it has ten arms, eight of which are used to swim, and two of which are used to gather food, and are generally considerably longer than the ones used to swim. As well, it has the largest eyes in the animal kingdom. It moves by both using its arms to swim and a funnel to channel and pump water to move swiftly through the ocean water. It uses a sharp beak to devour its prey, which consists of mainly “deep-sea fishes, such as orange ruffie, and hokie” [1].
The Giant Squid has been well-known throughout myth and legend, supposedly gobbling up people, and even sinking ships. The term for “Giant Squid” then was “Kracken”, and these creatures would hunt down unsuspecting ships and destroy them with its massive limbs. However, this has not been recorded to ever happen in the scientific world. In fact, these creatures rarely come to the surface unless they are injured or dying. Although they have been seen fighting with sperm whales, they wouldn’t have the strength or ability to take down a decent sized ship.
The first official sighting o...

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...ours them. But science has proven only a gentle giant; a natural abnormality that wanders the depths of the ocean. Science has never recorded the Giant Squid attacking a boat full of people (although it has had some battles with sperm whales).

Works Cited

http://www.mnh.si.edu/natural_partners/squid4/FAQ2.htm

http://ocean.si.edu/giant-squid

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/08/080825-giant-squid.html

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/09/16413041-captured-deep-beneath-the-waves-giant-squid-filmed-in-natural-habitat?lite

http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/squid.html

http://news.sky.com/story/1194928/giant-squid-caught-by-japanese-fishermen

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/13/-giant-squid-caught-japanese-fisherman_n_4589749.html

http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/squid.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_squid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraken

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