Scientists uncover giant squid secrets: 28-08-2008
Scientists investigating a giant squid that was caught last year believe it was at high risk from predators and had only just given birth.
The squid was dissected in April and Steve O'Shea of the Auckland University of Technology said she may have just given birth.
Measuring 30-feet in length, the squid carried some partially developed eggs but when fully mature would have produced "many, many thousands of eggs" inside her mantle cavity.
"Life cycles, reproductive strategies, egg brooding, all the behaviour of these things is basically unknown, so we've got to make do with the most closely related example for which we have more information," he told National Geographic.
He believes the squid had the potential to carry thousands of young because of its similarity to the comparatively small Teuthowenia pellucida which measures eight inches in length.
Mr O'Shea said that it had similar qualities to the giant squid and was "basically identical" apart from its size.
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