THE GIANT
By: Royce
SQUID
The Giant Squid
ISSUU Shanghai, China Š 2014
Royce
An Adventure Into The Deep You check the control panel to your submarine, the sea level has just reached 1000 meters, drawing in a breath you know, that this could be the best chance you’ll have in days to find the giant squid. You gaze out into the deep darkness of the sea. A shadow passes you in your submarine, suddenly; a spurt of darkness covers your window. You panic; being 1000 feet deep is not helping your problems with your unusual air pressure… An eye the size of a football stares at you. You know what it is, and what would happen if this creature goes rabid, it could mean the end of you and all of your crew. As soon as you think that, a 1000 pound frame slams into your craft! This devastating creature has the bite force of an African Lion! You grab your friend, then suddenly, a row of teeth chomped on the giant squid, probably a spermwhale’s, the giant squid suddenly let go. You run up to the driver, he’s in shock, you quickly shove him off and rev up the engine. Up you go! After the driver has calmed down he takes the wheel, you wipe your forehead, you didn’t realize how sweaty you were. With all the adrenaline pumping through your body relax. You sigh, remembering your savior, you turn A team in Japan managed too lure the squid to the surface.
around to have one last look at them. You only see darkness. You’ve managed to escape, for now.
Appearance These animals can reach up to 50 feet long or about 13 meters long, that’s as long as a bus! But even more stunning, when they’re stretched all the way out and put them next to a two-story building, they’d have the same height! Some people may get squids mixed up with octopuses, for one, the giant squid has ten tentacles, not eight. The longer two are for feeding tentacles, the other eight, are for offensive or defensive use. Each of the every eight arms has hundreds of suction cups on them, and inside every one of them is dozens of teeth. Each can deliver permanent unwanted tattoos into predators and prey.
The suction cup of a giant squid.
The remains of a washed up giant squid.
Mollusks Did you know that giant squids are the largest mollusks in the world? A mollusk is a type of animal that has a shell, but unlike most, the giant squid has a softer body and an inner shell. Hard to imagine but over 45,000 different types of mollusks have been identified by scientists. Even harder to imagine, puny little creatures like snails are actually distant cousins with the giant squids. The next time you are swimming anywhere be sure to talk to the nearest life guard and ask if any giant squids roam the water!
Bibliography
"Animal Fact Guide." Animal Fact Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. "Animal Planet." Animal Planet. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013 "Edith Widder: How We Found the Giant Squid." TED: Ideas worth Spreading. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013 " National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. "Giant Squid, Architeuthis Dux." MarineBio.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. "Giant Squid." BrainPOP. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2013. "Interesting Fact on Giant Squids?" - Ask.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013."Science Explorations." Children's Books for Kids of All Ages and Literacy Levels. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2013. "Phenomena:." Phenomena Giant Squid From Sea Monster to Conservation Icon Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Jan. 2014."Sperm Whale." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 June 2014. "10 Interesting Giant Squid Facts." My Interesting Facts RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.
Glossary Offensive-a actively aggressive, (of a weapon) meant for use in attack. Defensive-used of intended to defend of protect. Devastating-highly destructive or damaging. Rabid- (of an animal) affected with rabies of or connected with rabies. Shell- the hard protective case of a mollusk or crustacean. Submarine- a warship with a streamlined hull designed to operate completely submerged in the sea for long periods, equipped with a periscope and typically armed with torpedoes and/or missiles.
About The Author Royce was born on November 28th in 2002, in East Brunswick, New Jersey. By the time he was 6 months old, he and his mother, father, sister, and grandma moved to Shanghai, China. He has a sister attending Duke University. When he has free time he always likes to play with his dog and give her treats. He is attending Shanghai American School.
His adorable dog, Spark.