For as long as mariners have braved the world's oceans, rumors of fearsome serpents or enormous, many-armed sea monsters dragging man and ship down into the depths have abounded, giving rise to legends such as the Kraken, a gargantuan octopus or another type of cephalopod, which reportedly terrorized sailors in the remote, wild reaches of the sea.
These supposed sea monsters were immortalized in early maps of the world, many of which included the now well-known phrase, 'here be monsters,' often accompanied by engravings of fearsome creatures and fantastical beasts. This marked areas of the world that, at that time, remained uncharted, or were believed to be dangerous, inhabited by denizens of the deep, waiting to drag ships below into the dark abyss.
But, these tales of monsters emerging from the dark, unknown depths are just the superstition of sailors or folklore passed down through the ages, finding ways to embellish tales of ships lost during storms at sea, aren't they?
The giant squid: a legend born into reality
In more recent centuries, the folklore and supposed sightings of sea monsters became intertwined with the discovery of carcasses washed up on shorelines around the world, known as 'globsters,' many of which resembled giant octopuses or squid. In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, newspapers printed tales, and in many cases, photographs, of creatures found washed ashore, such as the 'St Augustine Monster,' the 'Tasmanian Globster,' and the 'Stronsay Beast.'
In reality, the majority of globsters were found to be large portions of tissue from a decaying whale or shark or exceptionally large examples of squid and octopus. In the 19th century, intact specimens of giant squid were found washed ashore in New Zealand, Canada, and other locations worldwide. Scientists and researchers eventually recognized these as being a distinct species, Architeuthis dux. From as far back as the fourth century BC, reports of giant squid had been recorded, often distinct from supposed monsters and beasts of the sea, and at long last, the reality was separated from the myth.
During this period, the giant squid began to be used in fiction as a sea monster and possible evidence for the Kraken myth. This gave rise to the images of giant squid battling sperm whales or attacking Captain Nemo's submarine in Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas, inspired by the encounter of the French corvette Alecton with a live giant squid in 1861.
Today, the giant squid remains somewhat of a mystery. Reports of individuals exceeding 66 feet (20 meters) in length exist but cannot be substantiated. The largest intact specimens found range up to 43 feet (13 meters), weighing over 275 kg (606 lb). The giant squid was not captured on film until 2002, and it remains elusive to this day. Throughout the early 21st century, several specimens were filmed either in deep water or shallow seas, where sick and dying squid are infrequently found. Only a handful of videos have successfully filmed adult giant squid in its natural habitat.
The beaks of giant squid have been found in the stomachs of sperm whales, indicating that they are a source of food for sperm whales, which are known to dive into the deep depths of the ocean. Intriguingly, some sperm whales have been found to be heavily scarred by the powerful tentacles of giant squid, adding credence to the well-known image of whales and squid locked in combat in the depths of the ocean.
Despite its size, the giant squid is clearly incapable of dragging merchant ships and ocean-going galleons below the waves. However, the giant squid is only the second-largest squid in the world. In the dark, uncharted depths of the southern oceans, even less well documented and researched than the giant squid, dwells something colossal: a true monster.
The realm of the colossal squid: Antarctica
Antarctica is, in many ways, still a region full of mystery, unknowns, and new scientific discoveries that continue to be uncovered to this day. The colossal squid is a prime representation of what may yet be awaiting discovery in the remote frigid depths of the Antarctic. It is a huge species of squid, found in the seas of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. But exactly how big it gets is unknown.
Not discovered until 1925, the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), is the largest squid species by mass in the world. Even more rarely seen than the giant squid, the colossal squid is only known from several fragmented remains, and the preservation of several adult specimens in 1981, 2003, and 2007. The squid captured in 2007 weighed an astounding 495 kg (1,091 lb) and is now displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, New Zealand.
Both the colossal squid and the giant squid display abyssal gigantism, which is the tendency for dee-sea dwelling species to grow to much larger sizes than species living in shallower seas. Other species that also display abyssal gigantism include the Japanese spider crab, giant isopod, and the giant oarfish.
The colossal squid is believed to grow up to 46 feet (12 meters) long. The largest, estimated from beaks found in the stomachs of sperm whales, may weigh up to 700 kg (1,500 lbs), dwarfing the giant squid in terms of mass, and perhaps giving it the bulk necessary to have attacked ships in centuries past. The colossal squid also has the largest eyes of any known creature ever to exist, with the largest collected specimen having a diameter of 40 cm (16 in).
Could this be the source of the many-armed monster myths of centuries past? Indeed, the colossal squid is the only squid species in its family to feature swiveling hooks on its tentacles, allowing it to snare prey and envelop larger creatures. Today, it is only found in the dark, cold waters of the south, far below the floating sea ice of Antarctica, but could it have once ranged across the world's oceans? It is an intriguing thought, but we may never know where truth and myth meet.
Are you ready to brave the waters of Antarctica?
On an expedition cruise to Antarctica, you'll likely see no sign of the mysterious colossal squid, or the ensnaring tentacles of the giant squid - the closest you will come may be the dining room with a plate of fried calamari, or a seafood stew. You will, however, encounter some of the most iconic and well-studied wildlife species in the world, including several species that may feed on the colossal squid and its many-tentacled cousins.
Many species of whale can be found in Antarctica, especially towards the end of the season, while seals are frequent across the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic region. Likely only feeding on smaller squid species, penguins are also a highlight of any Antarctic expedition cruise, with large colonies creating fantastic photo opportunities on the Peninsula and across the sub-Antarctic.
So, whether the colossal squid could be the inspiration for the Kraken legend of old or not, it remains a fascinating mystery, awaiting further study below the surface of Antarctica's waters. Perhaps, from the deck of the ship, as you gaze at the waves, try and conjure an image in your mind. Picture the ink-black depths far below, a brief glimmer of light bursting from scattered bioluminescence, brightening the murk around you, illuminating an immense eye, an enormous beak, and a swirl of tentacles before the murk of the abyss swallows all once more in crushing, unforgiving darkness.