Monster Squid Turns Out to Be Lazy Blob

Legendary predator just waits for prey to swim by
By Emily Rauhala,  Newser Staff
Posted May 11, 2010 9:32 AM CDT
Monster Squid Turns Out to Be Lazy Blob
Giant iris of a colossal squid, caught in the Ross Sea is seen as it is thawed out in a pool of brine, Museum of New Zealand in Wellington, Wednesday, April 30, 2008.   (AP Photo/NZPA, Ross Setford)

Ferocious sea creature? Fuggeddaboutit. It may be longer than a school bus and have razor-sharp hooks, but the colossal squid is no monster, reports LiveScience. New research suggests that just the opposite is true: "Everyone thought it was an aggressive predator," one scientist says. "Our findings show it’s more like just a big blob."


To get the skinny on this big, fat beast, researchers studied the animal's metabolism. By studying data on the animal's energy needs and size, scientists realized the colossal squid could not be the predator of legend. Rather than swimming after and attacking prey, this deep sea diver probably lays in wait until something yummy swims by. Click here to read about the 26-footer that stormed Australia.
(More colossal squid stories.)

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