Editing Giant squid (section)

== Size ==
{{see also|Cephalopod size}}
The giant squid is the second-largest [[Mollusca|mollusc]] and one of the largest of all [[extant taxon|extant]] [[invertebrate]]s. It is exceeded only by the [[colossal squid]], ''Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni'', which may have a [[mantle (mollusc)|mantle]] nearly twice as long. Several extinct cephalopods, such as the [[Cretaceous]] [[Coleoidea|coleoid]]s ''[[Yezoteuthis]]'' and ''[[Haboroteuthis]]'',<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Tanabe, K. |author2=Hikida, Y. |author3=Iba, Y.|year=2006 |title= Two coleoid jaws from the Upper Cretaceous of Hokkaido, Japan |doi=10.1666/0022-3360(2006)080[0138:TCJFTU]2.0.CO;2 |volume=80 |pages=138–145 |journal=Journal of Paleontology|s2cid=130583140 }}</ref><ref name="Tanabe">{{cite journal |last1=Tanabe |first1=Kazushige |last2=Misaki |first2=Akihiro |last3=Ubukata |first3=Takao |date=2015 |title=Late Cretaceous record of large soft-bodied coleoids based on lower jaw remains from Hokkaido, Japan |url=https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app000572013.html |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica|volume=60 |issue=1 |pages=27–38 |doi=10.4202/app.00052.2013 |issn=0567-7920 |oclc=5789669966 |doi-access=free |accessdate=22 August 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190810003128/https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app000572013.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the [[Ordovician]] [[nautiloid]] ''[[Endoceras]]''<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Klug |first1=Christian |last2=De Baets |first2=Kenneth |last3=Kröger |first3=Björn |last4=Bell |first4=Mark A. |last5=Korn |first5=Dieter |last6=Payne |first6=Jonathan L. |date=2015 |title=Normal giants? Temporal and latitudinal shifts of Palaeozoic marine invertebrate gigantism and global change |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/let.12104 |journal=Lethaia|volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=267–288 |doi=10.1111/let.12104 |bibcode=2015Letha..48..267K |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221116070147/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/let.12104 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> may have grown even larger. Although the Cretaceous ''[[Tusoteuthis]],'' with its {{convert|2|m|ft|frac=2|abbr=on}} long mantle, was once considered to grow to a size close to that of the giant squid (over {{convert|10|m|ft|0|disp=or|abbr=on}} including arms), this genus is likely doubtful. The largest specimen probably belonged to the genus ''[[Enchoteuthis]],'' estimated to have short arms, with a total length of only {{convert|3|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Fuchs |first1=Dirk |last2=Iba |first2=Yasuhiro |last3=Heyng |first3=Alexander |last4=Iijima |first4=Masaya |last5=Klug |first5=Christian |last6=Larson |first6=Neal L. |last7=Schweigert |first7=Günter |date=2020 |editor-last=Brayard |editor-first=Arnaud |title=The Muensterelloidea: phylogeny and character evolution of Mesozoic stem octopods |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1254 |journal=Papers in Palaeontology|volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=31–92 |doi=10.1002/spp2.1254 |bibcode=2020PPal....6...31F |s2cid=198256507 |issn=2056-2802 |access-date=16 November 2022 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922052651/https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1254 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Giant squid size, particularly total length, has often been exaggerated. Reports of specimens reaching and even exceeding {{convert|20|m|abbr=on}} are widespread, but no specimens approaching this size have been scientifically documented.<ref name=OShea>{{cite web |author1=O'Shea, S. |author2=K. Bolstad |year=2008 |url=http://www.tonmo.com/science/public/giantsquidfacts.php |title=Giant squid and colossal squid fact sheet |website=The Octopus News Magazine Online |access-date=8 April 2005 |archive-date=17 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117175518/http://www.tonmo.com/science/public/giantsquidfacts.php |url-status=live }}</ref> According to giant squid expert [[Steve O'Shea]], such lengths were likely achieved by greatly stretching the two tentacles like elastic bands.<ref name=OShea />

[[File:Giant Squid NASA.jpg|thumb|upright=2|A giant squid specimen measuring over {{convert|4|m|abbr=on}} without its two long feeding [[Tentacle#Tentacles in invertebrates|tentacles]]]]

Based on the examination of 130 specimens and of beaks found inside [[sperm whale]]s, giant squids' mantles are not known to exceed {{convert|2.25|m|1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=OShea/><ref name=guide /> Including the head and arms, but excluding the tentacles, the length very rarely exceeds {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=OShea/> Maximum total length, when measured relaxed ''post mortem'', is estimated at {{convert|12|m|abbr=on}} or {{convert|13|m|ft|abbr=on}} for females and {{convert|10|m|abbr=on}} for males from the posterior fins to the tip of the two long tentacles.<ref name=McClain_etal_2015>{{cite journal |vauthors=McClain CR, Balk MA, Benfield MC, Branch TA, Chen C, Cosgrove J, Dove AD, Gaskins LC, Helm RR, Hochberg FG, Lee FB, Marshall A, McMurray SE, Schanche C, Stone SN, Thaler AD |year=2015 |title= Sizing ocean giants: Patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna|journal= PeerJ|volume=3 |page=e715 |doi=10.7717/peerj.715|pmid=25649000 |pmc=4304853 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=OShea/><ref name=guide /><ref name=Yukhov2014 />

Giant squid exhibit [[sexual dimorphism]]. Maximum weight is estimated at {{convert|275|kg|abbr=on}} for females and {{convert|150|kg|abbr=on}} for males.<ref name=OShea/>