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The Giant Squid is the largest invertebrate on Earth. In fact, the largest measured squid of this species was an astonishing 59 feet in length and weighed about a ton. Thanks to its extremely large and long feeding tentacles, the Giant Squid can grasp food from about 33 feet away, which doubles the total length of the squid itself.
Studies believe that the Giant Squid reproduces once within its five year lifespan. Furthermore, unlike the majority of squid, the Giant Squid does not use a hectocotylus arm to reproduce. Instead, the Giant Squid uses a penis to produce sperm, through its funnel, into the female's arms. Though the actual reproduction process of Giant Squid is unknown, scientists predict that the sperm causes the female's ovaries to produce eggs. The sperm then senses that the eggs are near and moves toward them in order to fertilize the eggs. Soon after, the female produces million of tiny fertilized eggs into the water in a clump of jelly called an egg mass. Most of these eggs are consumed for food by other marine organisms, but few do survive and will eventually become giant predators. |