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".
List of giant squid specimens and sightings
O'Shea (2003b) put the maximum weight of female giant squid at , based on the examination of some 105 specimens as well as beaks recovered from sperm whales (which do not exceed the size of those found in the largest complete specimens; some of the heaviest recent specimens include #465 and 486). Giant squid are sexually size dimorphic, with the maximum weight for males estimated at (O'Shea, 2003b), though heavier specimens have occasionally been reported (see #401 for specimen). Roper & Jereb (2010:121) give a maximum weight of up to , and "possibly greater". Discredited weights of as much as a tonne () or more are not uncommon in older literature (see e.g. #22, 115, and 118; O'Shea & Bolstad, 2008).