No.1: Giant Squid (Architeuthis dux)
Feared in sailor lore for centuries as the “Kraken,” the Giant Squid is the largest invertebrate on Earth. Reaching lengths of 59 feet (18 m) and weighing over a ton, it’s a predator built for the abyss. But its most astonishing feature? Eyes as big as a human head—nearly 12 inches (30 cm) across—perfect for detecting the faintest glow in the deep.
Armed with ten arms lined with suction cups tipped with serrated hooks, it can grapple with even sperm whales—the only known predators capable of taking it down. While dead specimens have washed ashore for centuries, footage of a live giant squid in its natural habitat was first captured by Japanese researchers in 2012, electrifying the scientific community.
From Norway to New Zealand, this elusive leviathan roams the world’s cold, black waters—a colossal symbol of the ocean’s enduring mysteries.
