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海洋怪兽：巨型鱿鱼 |
英文名：Giant Squid(巨型鱿鱼)
拉丁文学名：Architeuthis dux
大小：40-60英尺(12.2-18.3米)
栖息范围：全世界
栖息深度：深及10,000英尺(3048米)
这种巨型鱿鱼是世界上最大的动物之一，也是最大的无脊椎动物，属于头足纲、枪形目、巨型鱿鱼科，许多中文文章里也把它称为“大王乌贼”。其实鱿鱼与乌贼是有区别的，就普通大小的鱿鱼和乌贼而言，它们在外貌上很相似，但又有明显的不同：鱿鱼身体狭长，有点像标枪的枪头，所以又叫枪乌贼。鱿鱼的触手没有乌贼的触手长，而且不能全部缩到身体内。不过由于大王乌贼这个词汇用得比较久，所以许多正式的文章上也很常见，大概也算合法名称了。
对于这种动物科学家知道得还不多，因为到目前为止人们从没见过野生的活体，我们所了解到的东西都来自冲到海滩上的巨鱿尸体，更多的是来自渔民拖网中的尸体。它们是食肉动物，根据对它们胃中食物的研究，它们应该不是挑剔的食客，几乎什么都往肚子里塞。它们有进化完善的大眼睛，视力相当好，而它们生存的深层带中有大量生物是发光的，这些巨鱿就利用自己的大眼睛循光而去，轻而易举地捕猎。
这种巨型动物是许多古代海怪传说的主角，甚至在第二次世界大战期间，还有沉船的船员报告说他们的难友在夜晚的黑暗中被这些生物吃掉，也有报道说有巨鱿跑到海面，把小船上的人拖进大海。尽管所有的那些报道都没有得到正式确认，但在许多图画中它们都被画成可怕而强大的掠食者。
巨鱿的两只捕食性长触手上末端膨大，上有强大吸盘，而吸盘环上长有利齿，其它8条触手上也有长利齿的吸盘，这使得猎物一旦被抓住就难以逃脱，而尖而有力的喙状嘴以可怕的效率解决无助的猎物。但它们巨大的身躯无法让它们变成无敌的动物，相反，它们却是抹香鲸最喜爱的食品，在死亡的抹香鲸胃里常能见到难消化的巨鱿的喙，而且许多抹香鲸的身体上都有巨鱿吸盘上利齿留下的圆圈状伤痕。
The elusive giant squid, known to science as Architeuthis dux, is one of the world's largest animals, reaching a length of up to 60 feet. It is the largest known invertebrate in the world. The giant squid is a mollusk and is member of the cephalopod class, which includes the octopus and other squids. Very little is known about these mysterious animals because none have been seen alive in the wild. Most of what we know about them comes from the bodies of dead squid that have washed ashore or been pulled up in fishermen's nets. These animals are carnivores, and will eat just about anything they can catch. During World War II, stories from the survivors of sunken ships tell of shipmates being eaten by these creatures in the dark of night. There have even been reports of giant squid reaching out of the water and pulling men off small boats. None of these reports have been officially verified, but they paint a picture of a powerful predator. The squid's eight long tentacles have strong suction cups, which they use to hold on to their prey. A sharp, powerful beak finishes off their helpless victim with eerie efficiency. The giant squid appears to be a favorite meal for the sperm whale. They have been found in the stomachs of dead whales and many these whales bear scars from the squid's suction-cupped tentacles. |
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