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

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 dor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
Main Authors: Romanov, Evgeny V., Jaquemet, Sebastien, Puetz, Lara
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2017
Subjects:
DML
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315417001588
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315417001588
Description
Summary: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.