Colossal Squid
Colossal Squid
Invertebrate
The colossal squid is the heaviest squid of all, haunting the deep Southern Ocean with the largest eyes of any animal on Earth — each about the size of a football.
💡 Fun Facts
- The colossal squid has the biggest eyes of any animal — each one about the size of a football.
- Huge eyes help it spot sperm whales hunting in the dark deep sea.
- It lives far down in the cold Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
Name Story
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
means “Hamilton's middle-hook squid”
What does its name mean?
- Mesonychoteuthis — middle-hook squidGreek mesos 'middle' + onycho 'claw, hook' + teuthis 'squid'
- hamiltoni — named after a scientist called Hamiltona person's name
The long first word means 'middle-hook squid', for the sharp, swivelling hooks on the middle of its arms. The second half honours a scientist named Hamilton. It is the heaviest squid of all, with the biggest eyes of any animal on Earth.