Marine Science Faculty Publications

Slow Pace of Life of the Antarctic Colossal Squid

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Keywords

colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, Southern Ocean, metabolism, energy demand, prey requirements

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0025315409991494

Abstract

The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is the world's largest invertebrate and its large size and some unique morphological characters have fuelled speculation that it is an aggressive top predator in the circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean. Here, we present estimates on the metabolic and energetic demands of this cold-water deep-sea giant. The estimated mass-specific routine metabolic rate for the colossal squid at 1.5°C was 0.036 µmol O2 h−1 g−1 and the projected daily energy consumption (45.1 kcal day−1) was almost constant as a function of depth in the nearly isothermal Antarctic waters. Our findings also indicate the squid shows a slow pace of life linked with very low prey requirements (only 0.03 kg of prey per day). We argue that the colossal squid is not a voracious predator capable of high-speed predator–prey interactions. It is, rather, an ambush or sit-and-float predator that uses the hooks on its arms and tentacles to ensnare prey that unwittingly approach.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

No

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, v. 90, issue 7, p. 1375-1378

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