Year: 2004

First video of a living giant squid

In 2004, off the coast of Japan, a giant squid was filmed and photographed alive in its natural habitat for the first time, ending centuries during which the species was known only from stranded carcasses and sailors' tales that fed the legend of the Kraken.

🌍 Ocean: Pacific Ocean

Associated species

Calmar géant échoué, Ranheim, Norvège
Low danger

Giant squid

Architeuthis dux

Giant squid

The source of the Kraken myth for centuries, it is one of the largest invertebrate creatures known, never filmed alive in its natural habitat before 2004.

🌊 300–1000 m

  • ⚡ The largest eyes in the animal kingdom (up to 27 cm in diameter)
  • ⚡ Copper-based blue blood, adapted to carrying oxygen in cold, deep water
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