Colossal Squid vs. Giant Squid: There's a Massive Difference

When you think of a showdown between deep-ocean giants, what comes to mind is probably the colossal squid vs. giant squid .

These two legendary cephalopods are among the largest living invertebrates, but they aren’t interchangeable. Each has its own size record, hunting style, natural habitat, and key differences.

Which Is Bigger, the Colossal Squid or Giant Squid?

The giant squid ( Architeuthis dux ) holds the record for total length, with some female giant squid measuring up to 43 feet (13 m) from the fins to the tip of their incredibly long tentacles and weighing up to 606 lb (275 kg).

The colossal squid ( Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni ) is shorter overall at around 33 feet (10 m) but far heavier, with the largest colossal squid specimen weighing about 1,100 lb (500 kg). That m