Description

The most striking feature of the Architheutis duxis its long, torpedo-shaped body, with 10 tentacles, two of which extend longer than the rest. It has a strong beak, similar to a parrot’s and large round eyes.

When the cone shaped squid head sticks out of the water with its tentacles deployed, it might look like a serpent head and tail from a distance. Also a single tentacle with a club of suckers on the end might look like the head and neck of a Pleisosaur.

Origin

The Kraken of legend is probably what we know today as the giant squid. While a colossal octopus might also fit the description, the squid is thought to be much more aggressive and more likely to come to the surface.

Though giant squids are considerably less then a mile and a half across, they are large enough to wrestle with a sperm whale.

Read more about the mythological Kraken

Place

The architheutis lives in the ocean depths ranging from 200 to 1000 meters, as long as the temperature remains below 5 ° C.  When a current like the Gulf Stream drives it in colder waters, it tends to come closer to the surface where the temperature is higher.