Colossal squid

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/colossal-squid

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni
2. What is the habitat?Deep, cold waters of the circumantarctic Southern Ocean
3. How big can a colossal squid get?It can weigh at least 495 kilograms and may reach 600–700 kilograms. Its body is about 4.2 meters long, plus long feeding tentacles that add to its reach.
4. Why does a colossal squid have such huge eyes?Its huge eyes help it see faint light and glowing prey in the very dark Antarctic waters.

Invertebrate: An animal lacking a vertebral column or backbone, representing the vast majority of animal species on Earth.
Aphotic Zone: The portion of a lake or ocean where there is little or no sunlight, typically below a depth of 200 meters.
Cephalopod: A class of marine mollusks characterized by bilateral symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles, such as squids and octopuses.