Researchers Size Up Sea Creatures

Researchers calculate accurate maximum sizes of the ocean’s biggest residents

Humans tend to greatly exaggerate the sizes of the largest marine animals such as the giant squid, discovered a team of researchers who took on the task of checking and correcting these misconceptions.

The giant squid only grows up to 12 metres, not 18, said Craig McClain, assistant director of the US National Evolutionary Synthesis Center and the study's lead author.

McClain and his fellow researchers exhausted several means to collect and analyse data about the body sizes of 25 marine species. These species were a mix of ‘fan favourites’ such as the blue whale and the great white shark, and more obscure creatures like the giant tubes worm.

Below is an infographic that shows their interesting findings.