Sperm whale versus The Giant Squid. Who would come out on top in this epic oceanic battle?
Oceans are full of mysteries, and the Giant Squid and Sperm Whale are no exception. Because of their environment, neither species has been explored. Giant squids live up to their name: the largest giant squid discovered was about 43 feet long and weighed nearly a ton. You'd think that such a massive beast would be difficult to notice. However, because the ocean is gigantic squid that resides deep beneath the surface, they are elusive and rarely seen: much of what we know comes from dead carcasses that float to the surface and are discovered by fishermen.
The sperm whale has many distinguishing features that set it apart from other prominent whale species. In fact, the sperm whale belongs to a separate family from the other well-known whale species. The largest of the toothed whales, this one-of-a-kind creature will enthrall you with its daily activities. The sperm whale is the largest of the toothed whales, and seeing one reminds many people of the "Moby Dick" fable. The large bulbous organ carrying a liquid wax called spermaceti gives this whale its name.
Size and Appearance
Giant squids are made up of eight species that have been identified. They are quite huge, with females measuring about 10 feet longer than males. A female's maximum length is 43 feet. It has the same overall design as other varieties of squid. The mantle, eight arms, and two tentacles are all present. The inside surface of the arms and tentacles is coated with circular suction cups containing serrated tooth-like chitin. They also have a tongue-like organ inside the squid's beak, which is covered in rows of teeth. All giant squid have enormous eyes, the size of basketballs. In the water, they are exceedingly swift and nimble.
The sperm whale is the largest-toothed whale. Males can grow to be 60 feet long, while females are only 37 feet long. They're dark grey in appearance, have a hump instead of a dorsal fin, and dive with their tail flukes shown. To increase surface area for heat loss, their skin gets wrinkled, giving them a shriveled appearance. Their heads are squarish in shape and take up one-third of their body length. They have a single S-shaped blowhole on the left side of their head, which creates a characteristic angled spout or blow. Males have about 40-50 teeth in their thin lower jaw, while females have even fewer.
Habitat
Squids like this can be found in deep oceans all around the world. Specimens have been found or collected all over the world, from the north Atlantic Ocean near Norway and Newfoundland to the south Atlantic Ocean in South Africa. They can be found all over the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia. They are rarely seen near tropical or arctic locations. Giant squids, according to scientists, live in the deep sea, close to slopes in the sea bottom. They're most commonly seen near continental shelves and island slopes. Because so little is known about these squids, they could be found in a variety of deep-sea settings.
Adult males can sometimes be found at higher latitudes, and the young sperm whale can be found in tropical and temperate oceans. They can be found in almost every sea from north to south, however, they prefer to stay in deep waters offshore in temperate and tropical oceans. The sperm whale likes ice-free environments and dives to depths of 3,300 feet, surfacing only to breathe and sleep. They're typically located around underwater canyons and the continental shelf's edges.
Diet
In the ocean, giant squid prefers to eat medium-sized fish. If there aren't enough other options available, they'll consume smaller squid. They utilize their tentacles to grip and compress their prey. They can shred and swallow food using their teeth. They prefer to hunt alone, ensuring that they have access to the food they desire. They usually blend in with their environment and wait for it to approach, then surprise it with a rapid and strong assault.
Sperm whales hunt for food during long dives that can take up to 45 minutes and reach depths of 2,000 feet. They can dive to depths of over 10,000 feet and stay submerged for nearly 60 minutes. Individuals emerge to the surface after long, deep dives to breathe and recover for about nine minutes. Because sperm whales spend most of their time in deep seas, they eat a variety of larger animals that also live in these areas. Squids, sharks, skates, and fish all fall into this category. Sperm whales can eat up to 3.5 percent of their body weight daily.
Sperm Whale VS Giant Squid - Final Thoughts
Let's get back to our main topic. In a fight between a giant squid and a sperm whale, who would win?
Because the giant squid lives in very deep seas and a fight like this has never been observed or videotaped, it's difficult to predict who would win. One theory, published over 20 years ago, suggested that the whales used strong ultrasonic shrieks to knock their squid prey out of their minds before snatching them up. While the theory is disputed among scientists, it has become part of whale lore, adding to the mystery surrounding the daily battles between leviathans and squids in the deep depths.
Though giant squid is rarely seen by humans, they are considered to make up around three-quarters of sperm whales' food in the Southern Ocean. Giant Squid has superb eyesight, a sensitive sense of smell, and the capacity to shoot dark ink jets that conceal their escape.
However, these skills provide little protection against toothed whales, like the sperm whale, which kill and eat them ruthlessly and easily. Although the giant squid, in particular, is armed with a terrifying arsenal of weapons, including barbed swiveling hooks, and frequently leaves scars on the bodies of sperm whales, the number of colossal squid beaks found in the stomachs of sperm whales suggests that the latter often emerge victorious.
So according to us, it is an easy win for the slow, silent but deadly sperm whale. Let us know your opinions in the comments down below.