Giant Squid Stranded at Newburgh
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On Sunday January 18th 1998 a large squid was spotted on the beach at Newburgh, north of Aberdeen, by an MSc student, Oscar Campbell. The weather was cold, with snow lying on the beach at low water. Oscar brought a tentacle club in to the university we identified as belonging to an Architeuthis. |
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The following day a group of us returned to the beach to collect the squid. The specimen was found to be in good condition and was brought from the beach into the Zoology Department at Aberdeen University, where it was measured and dissected. Give the size of the squid and the inaccessibility of the beach the head and tentacles were separated from the mantle to enable the squid to be dragged and carried from the beach. Total length, mantle length (ML) and arm lengths were measured in situ on the beach. |
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The squid was found to be an immature female with a total length of 4.6 m and mantle length (ML) of 1.2 m, it weighed 40 kgs. It was considerably smaller than a female Architeuthis stranded in the area in 1985, which was 1.8m ML. Given the immaturity of this specimen it is likely that it would have grown considerably larger, had it survived. Male Architeuthis are typically mature at, and probably have smaller, final size than females. |
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The squid was carefully dissected and detailed measurements taken. The suckers on the arms and tentacles were counted and measured. The squid is armed with numerous suckers to help it capture prey. |
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The buccal mass and beak were removed and now form part of a display in the Zoology Department at Aberdeen University. The beak and muscular buccal mass combine to macerate prey before the food is swallowed. In the cephalopods the oesophagous passes through the brain, making it impossible for large items to be swallowed. Hence all squid and octopus chew their food thoroughly before swallowing. This however makes identifying the stomach contents very difficult. |
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The stomach of the squid was examined, but found to be empty, which is typical of squid that are stranded on the shore. However three giant squid caught in trawls to the west of Ireland in 1995 did have some food in their stomachs
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Giant Squid |
 Eurosquid |
 Oceanlab |