Who needs sci-fi monsters from other planets when we’ve got colossal squid in our oceans? From Rare Colossal Squid Found Near Antarctica:
A rare and dangerous squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and scores of razor-sharp hooks to snag its prey has been caught by fishermen off Antarctica, New Zealand scientists said on Thursday.
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The colossal squid finds food by literally glowing in the dark, deep waters to light up prey for its massive eyes — the biggest of any animal. But it is the colossal squid’s weaponry that marks it out from its giant cousin. Its eight arms and two tentacles have up to 25 teeth-like hooks — deeply rooted into muscle and able to rotate 360 degrees — as well as the usual suckers to ensure fish do not escape.The hooks not only hold fish for the squid’s two parrot-like beaks, but also are used to fend off attacks from hungry sperm whales, O’Shea said.
The species, whose scientific name is Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, was previously thought to have lurked at least half a mile down in the freezing waters near Antarctica, but the specimen found a fortnight ago was near the surface.
The colossal squid is the giant squid’s bigger, meaner cousin, but this is only the second intact specimen we’ve recovered; most of what we know comes from colossal squid bits found inside sperm whales (cachalots).