Skip navigation

Collections & Research . Collections and Research areas . Natural Environment . Molluscs . Colossal Squid

Colossal Squid

Te Papa has the world’s only complete Colossal Squid specimen.

It was found and frozen in Antarctica in February 2007
It was defrosted and examined in April 2008, watch video of the webcast and read the blog
It will go on display at Te Papa in December 2008 - Find out more about the exhibition

Find out more about the differences between octopuses, giant and colossal squid, and about colossal squid life and habits, learn about our specimen and watch video of the thaw and the lecture series. Keep track of what is happening with our squid on Te Papa’s blog.

Want to keep posted about the Exhibtion? Email webmaster@teapapa.govt.nz

You can buy reproductions of all our squid images from our Picture library.

Colossal squid, giant squid and octopus

What's the difference?

Biology of the colossal squid

What do we know about the life and habits of the colossal squid? How common are they?

How it was caught

How did the colossal squid make its way from the Ross Sea to Te Papa?

Te Papa's specimen

How big is it? What's going to happen to it? Will it be on display for the public? Includes the schedule for the dissection.

Photo gallery

These photos are of the colossal squid caught in 2003.

Webcast and lectures recordings

Includes the video recording of 2 lectures, the audio recording of our Science Express programme about the colossal squid, and the last hours of the webcast of the colossal squid's examination.