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Rare giant squid found washed up on Spanish beach

This giant squid called Architeuthis dux and measuring 30 feet long washed ashore in the Spanish community of Cantabria on Oct. 1, 2013.

A giant squid, one of the largest and most elusive creatures on Earth, was discovered washed up on a beach in the Cantabria community of northern Spain on Tuesday.

According to the Spanish news source El Diario Montanes, this female squid belongs to the species known as Architeuthis dux, measured more than 10 metres in length and tipped the scales at 180 kilograms. Studies have shown that females of this species can grow to an estimated 13 metres in length and be up to 275 kilograms, whereas males likely top out at 10m long and 150 kg.

Shortly after this one was reported, the specimen was moved to the Maritime Museum of Cantabria, in Santander, for study.

Although the giant squid is a prominent feature of myths, legends, and even science fiction, actual sightings of these monstrous cephalopods are very rare. The first account of one apparently goes back to Aristotle, in the 4th century BC, and people have found them washed up on shores over the centuries since. It wasn't until 2002 that the very first photographs of a live specimen were taken, and pictures of one actually seen in its natural habitat were captured in 2004. Actual video footage of a live specimen in its natural habitat had to wait until just 9 months ago, when an international team spotted one over 600 metres below the ocean's surface near Chichi-jima, a small island to the southeast of Japan.

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This specimen isn't the largest of its kind found washed up on shore, but unlike most, which are in fairly poor condition — rotted or partially-eaten — this one (other than it being dead) was actually in good condition, according to El Diario Montanes. After determining the poor creature's cause of death, the specimen may simply be preserved, or it may go on public display at the Maritime Museum.

(Video screencap courtesy: El Diario Montanes)

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