Fla. Museum to host 'in search of giant squid' temporary exhibit

July 18, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The University of Florida's Florida Museum of Natural History will host the temporary exhibition “In Search of Giant Squid” from Sept. 24 to Jan. 2, 2006.

“In Search of Giant Squid” aims to uncover the mysteries that surround the world’s largest invertebrate, which can reach up to 60 feet long and weigh more than 1,000 pounds. Architeuthis, the giant squid, has been found in fishermen’s nets, sperm whale bellies and on beaches all over the world when washed ashore, yet it has never been seen alive in its natural habitat.

“Who knows what undiscovered living specimens lurk deep below the water's surface,” Florida Museum Assistant Director for Exhibits and Public Programs Susan Pharr said. “Based on the enormously popular exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, this exhibition brings to life the excitement of scientific research, exploration and discovery.”

Inside the 2,000-square-foot exhibition, guests will discover myths and legends of the giant squid, compare this elusive creature to other squids and mollusks, learn what little scientists know about how it hunts, moves and defends itself, and uncover how scientists are working to better understand and research its anatomy and behavior.

Displays include a giant squid beak and suckers, typical squid prey, eggs and a gladius, a slim structure where the squid’s muscles attach.

The exhibition also highlights the vastness of this creature with interactive components that allow visitors to compare their height to a giant squid and experience its presumed environment. Information on scientific research and exploration will punctuate the visually exciting displays with text and video presentations provided by the Discovery Channel.

Other questions about this huge creature explored in the exhibition include how long it can live, how fast it swims and why and how whales can find it when scientists cannot. A giant squid may grow as much as 25 feet in length its first year of life; it lives between 650 and 2,600 feet below the ocean’s surface; and its eyes can be as large as a human head. Giant squid also have clear blue blood based on copper rather than iron, and their muscles are filled with ammonia.

“In Search of Giant Squid” has been developed by the National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in partnership with the Discovery Channel, and is made possible by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Local support for the exhibit is provided in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.