The Search for the Giant Squid

Publisher: Robert Hale, 1998 £ 25

Giant squids, Architeuthis, are mysterious and elusive monsters. They live in the depths and when seen at the surface or when washed ashore, most frequently in Norway, Newfoundland or New Zealand, are dead or dying. They are the food of sperm whales and there are many reports of bits of squids vomited up by harpooned whales. In recent years they may, rarely be brought up in deep trawls.

The mantle may be 6-7ft long and 10ft in circumference with two horrible eyes 6 inches in diameter, a buccal cavity with a powerful beak to crunch food and a hose like funnel from which a jet of water can propel the creature. In front there are eight tentacles with suckers perhaps 20-30ft long and two, much longer, tentacles used to grab prey.

Ellis recounts what little science knows of the life of these monsters and has good chapters of their place in (imaginary) literature - such as Melville's "Moby Dick" and Verne's "20,000 Leagues under the Sea" and in terror films such as "Dr No" with James Bond. The book is beautifully produced and illustrated and has details of the 164 known records of Architeuthis sightings from AD 1545 to 1996. - OLW