Scientific Correspondence
Nature 389, 683-684 (16 October 1997) | doi:10.1038/39497
Sex in giant squid
Recent captures of two female giant squid ( Architeuthis ) off southern Australia have provided the first record of a mated female specimen of these almost mythical deepsea creatures. We found sperm packages (spermatophores) embedded within the skin of both ventral arms of the larger of the two specimens. It seems that male giant squids may use their muscular elongate penis to 'inject' sperm packages under pressure directly into the arms of females.
- Museum of Victoria, 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VictoriaM 3052, Australia