Te Ngū Tipua: Ngā Wāhanga Weriweri Colossal Squid: Freaky Features

Colossal Squid: Freaky Features

The colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, is the largest squid on the planet and is a ferocious predator. So rare is this squid, that only eight adult specimens have ever been scientifically reported.

While the iconic colossal squid itself can be visited at Te Papa Tongarewa, some of its key features are now on display at Puke Ariki as part of a Te Papa touring exhibition.

These include a lens from the squid’s enormous eyes, which help it to navigate the dark depths of the ocean, and a tentacle armed with barbed hooks for catching prey. You can touch a model tentacle hook and a model squid beak, to better understand these amazing adaptations.

The life cycle of the mysterious colossal squid is shown in a popular animated video and you can see a documentary showing the actual specimen being examined by scientists at Te Papa. Come and find out why squids have such freaky features!

Te Ngū Tipua: Ngā Wāhanga Weriweri

Ko te Ngū Tipua te ngū nui rawa atu i tēnei ao, he ngū horetitī, horetatā! He kawenga tapu tōna, e waru noa iho ngā ngū pahake kua pūrongohia e ngā mātanga pūtaiao. 

Ko hētehi o ngā āhuatanga matua o te ngū, nō te whakaaturanga teretere a Te Papa Tongarewa, ka kitea ināianei ki Puke Ariki. He mata nō te karu rārahi o te ngū, ko tāna hei arahi i a ia anō, i te moana uriuri, me tētehi kawekawe mau matau koi hei hopu kai. Ka āhei koe ki te pā i tētehi tauira matau kawekawe me tētehi tauira ngutu ngū, kia kite pai ai koe i hēnei kātū āpitihanga o te ngū. 

Ko te mataora o te Ngū Tipua nei e kitea ana i tētehi pakiwaituhi rongonui, ā, e āhei ana koe ki te mātakitaki atu i tētehi pakipūmeka e whakaatu ana i tētehi wāhanga e whakamātautaurua ana e ngā mātanga pūtaiao, ki Te Papa. Kia tata mai, kia piri mai, kia kitea mai ai ko ngā kano mīharo o te ngū!