Colossal squid
The largest recorded specimen was captured in 2007 by a New Zealand fishing boat off Antarctica. It was initially estimated to measure in length and weigh . The squid was taken back to New Zealand for scientific study. A study on the specimen later showed its actual weight was , but it only measured in total length as a result of the tentacles' shrinking "post mortem".
Cephalopod size
Size, and particularly maximum size, has been one of the most interesting aspects of cephalopod science to the general public and scientists alike (Glaubrecht & Salcedo-Vargas, 2004; O'Shea & Bolstad, 2008; Guerra & Segonzac, 2014; Hogenboom, 2014; Paxton, 2016a). This is evidenced by the regular coverage given to the giant squid—and more recently, the colossal squid—in both the popular press and academic literature (see Ellis, 1998a; Roper & Shea, 2013; Rosa "et al.", 2017). Due to its status as a charismatic megafaunal species, the giant squid has been proposed as an emblematic animal for marine invertebrate conservation (Guerra "et al.", 2011). Life-sized models of the giant squid are a common sight in natural history museums around the world (Tratz, 1973; Ellis, 1997a, b), and preserved specimens are much sought after for display (Landman & Ellis, 1998; Ablett, 2012).
Giant cephalopods have fascinated humankind since time immemorial. The earliest surviving records are perhaps those of Aristotle and Pliny the Elder, both of whom described squids of very large size (Gerhardt, 1966:171; Muntz, 1995; Ellis, 1998a:11). Tales of giant squid have been common among mariners since ancient times, and may have inspired the monstrous kraken of Nordic legend, said to be as large as an island and capable of engulfing and sinking any ship (Salvador & Tomotani, 2014). Similar tentacled sea monsters are known from other parts of the globe, including the Akkorokamui of Japan and Te Wheke-a-Muturangi of New Zealand. The Lusca of the Caribbean and Scylla in Greek mythology may also derive from giant squid sightings (Ley, 1941), as might eyewitness accounts of other sea monsters such as sea serpents (Lee, 1883; Ellis, 1994b).