Colossal Squid Autopsy

[Mikes]

Long time no post, but I coudlnt' let this one go:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-17/a ... ep/5750086

A colossal squid corpse brought up from a kilometre and half down from the ocean is autopsied..... look at that beak!

[strawman]

Beak.jpg (51.18 KiB) Viewed 6112 times

Yep, that's some beak.
The Humboldt squid’s beak is two inches long and incredibly hard (difficult to dent or scratch), stiff (difficult to bend out of shape) and tough (resistant to fractures). This combination of properties makes the beak harder to deform than virtually all known metals and polymers. That’s all the more remarkable because unlike most animal teeth or jaws, it contains no minerals or metals. It’s made up solely of organic chemicals and manages to be twice as hard and stiff as the most competitive manmade equivalents.
(http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscienc ... gineering/)
The Colossal 8 times bigger than a Humbolt Squid.
You say you'd sure like one of those big beaks for your collection?
You'll have to work for it. Find yourself a beached sperm whale, and dissect that sucker. 77% of their diet is colossal squid, and the beaks don't digest.

Thanks, Mikes.
Don't be a stranger.

[Penman Bland]

You'll have to work for it. Find yourself a beached sperm whale, and dissect that sucker. 77% of their diet is colossal squid, and the beaks don't digest.

Good heavens. The whales must have some pretty impervious colons....

[strawman]

You'll have to work for it. Find yourself a beached sperm whale, and dissect that sucker. 77% of their diet is colossal squid, and the beaks don't digest.

Good heavens. The whales must have some pretty impervious colons....

Maybe they're like kidney stones? Imagine passing one of those!

[SpareInch]

You'll have to work for it. Find yourself a beached sperm whale, and dissect that sucker. 77% of their diet is colossal squid, and the beaks don't digest.

Good heavens. The whales must have some pretty impervious colons....

Maybe they're like kidney stones? Imagine passing one of those!

Perhaps they cough them up. Sort of Beak-Balls style of thing.

[Hando Calrisian]

I have to say, my deepest, darkest 'irrational' fear is being attacked by a giant squid. Gods, that beak.

You really have to wonder, with how little of the ocean has been explored, if we've really found the biggest of the squid, or if there is some larger, more monstrous species lurking in the deep ocean.

[SpareInch]

I have to say, my deepest, darkest 'irrational' fear is being attacked by a giant squid.

I hear Alice Springs, Australia, is a really nice, totally squid free part of the world.

[strawman]

I read that giant squids are 93% water.
This means that the oceans are ALMOST giant squids.

Try to remember to point that out that next time someone tells you to drink 64 oz a day.

[StezanTheGreat]

Question is, what are they eating that they need such impressive beaks for?

[SpareInch]

Question is, what are they eating that they need such impressive beaks for?

According to Jules Verne, they eat submarines.

I read that giant squids are 93% water.
This means that the oceans are ALMOST giant squids.

Try to remember to point that out that next time someone tells you to drink 64 oz a day.

That reminds me of that old Stephen Wright joke.

Sponges grow in The Ocean.

That kills me!

I wonder how much deeper it would be if that didn't happen?

[Spindaddy]

That is a big ass beak. Kinda makes you wonder if one of these things didn't wash up on a beach somewhere in ancient times to spawn the legend of the kracken.