In Search of Giant Squid - Smithsonian Institution Traveling

In Search of Giant Squid
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They inhabit all of the world’s oceans, do battle with sperm whales, and
can be longer than a school bus. What little we know about Architeuthis dux,
the giant squid, sounds like utter fantasy. But the most amazing thing about
this mysterious animal is that it has yet to be seen in its natural habitat.
T
sea monk
he kraken of Norse mythology, the Scylla of
Based on the enormously popular permanent exhibi-
Homer’s Odyssey, and legends of other menac-
tion at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural
ing sea monsters likely sprung from sightings of the
History, In Search of Giant Squid explores what is known
giant squid. Before the Danish naturalist Japetus
about these elusive animals and scientists’ ongoing
Steenstrup named the creature in 1857, some natural-
efforts to observe them in their undersea home. Visitors
ists identified specimens as the remains of mermen or
to the 2,000-square-foot exhibition will examine the
“sea monks.” More recently, Hollywood has added to
myths and legends surrounding giant squid, compare
the squid’s mystique by depicting it as a malevolent
them with other squids and mollusks, explore what is
force, lurking beneath the surface of the ocean, poised
known of how they hunt, move, and defend themselves,
to devour unsuspecting ships and sailors.
and learn what scientists are doing to fill in the gaps in
Our modern sources of information about the giant
our understanding of their anatomy and behavior.
squid are far less dramatic. Giant squid carcasses have
In Search of Giant Squid features an actual giant
been found in fishermen’s nets, in the bellies of sperm
squid beak and suckers. Also included are examples of
whales, and washed ashore all over the world. From these
typical squid prey, squid eggs, and gladius, a slim,
specimens, scientists like the Smithsonian’s Dr. Clyde
chitinous structure where a squid’s muscles attach.
Roper have gleaned much about the lives and likely
The exhibition’s dynamic, freestanding design conveys
habits of these intriguing deep sea dwellers.
the scale of this reclusive giant. Planned interactive
While giant squid share the body plan of smaller
components allow visitors to compare their size to that
squid, with eight arms and two prey-grabbing tentacles,
of a giant squid and to experience the giant squid’s
the scale of these creatures is off the charts. The two
presumed environment. Compelling graphics present
largest specimens ever found were 60 feet long and
squids’ elegant evolutionary solutions to the problems
weighed nearly a ton. Even average-sized Architeuthis
of locomotion, feeding, mating, and avoiding predators.
have eyes the size of volleyballs.While no one has yet laid
In Search of Giant Squid also emphasizes the excite-
eyes on a full grown Architeuthis in its natural habitat,
ment of scientific research and exploration through
scientists recently captured giant squid larvae swim-
evocative text and a captivating video presentation.
ming off the coast of New Zealand. Such discoveries
bring researchers a step closer to revealing the secrets
of this living “sea monster.”
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Scientists estimate there are about 500 species of squids; despite differences in size and shape, all function the same way.
What DO we know?
They’re huge! Giant squid are massive
invertebrates that reach up to 60 feet
in length and weigh 1,000 lb. or more.
They have the world’s largest eyes! Giant
Giant
squid
are massive
squid eyes are as big as a human head.
They’re fast growing! Giant squid may
invertebrates that reach up to
feet
60
in length.
grow as much as 25 feet in their first year.
They’re denizens of the deep! Giant
squid live at a depth of between 650
and 2,600 feet.
They’re true blue bloods! All squids have
What DON’T we know?
clear blue blood, based on copper rather
How long do giant squid live?
than iron.
How fast can they swim?
They’re lousy hors d’oeuvres! Instead of
saline, a giant squid’s muscles are filled
How do they capture their prey?
with ammonia.
How do they mate?
They’re tough! Large sucker marks found
How can whales find them, when
on sperm whales, the adult giant squid’s
scientists can’t?
only predator, prove that although they
often lose the battle, giant squid don’t give
Do they live in groups?
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up without a fight.
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batoteuthis scolops
chiroteuthis calyx
cranchia scabra
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a
b
c
In Search of Giant Squid introduces the fascinating world of the giant squid,
and invites visitors to join in the quest to observe this legend in the wild.
idiosepius pygmaeus
watasenia scintillans
NATIONAL MUSEUM
OF NATURAL HISTORY
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
TRAVELING EXHIBITION SERVICE
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural
Each year, the Smithsonian Institution Traveling
History (NMNH) is dedicated to understanding the
Exhibition Service (SITES) shares the wealth of
natural world and our place in it. Opened in 1910,
Smithsonian collections and research programs with
the green-domed museum on the National Mall in
millions of people outside of Washington, D.C. One
Washington, D.C., was the first Smithsonian building
of the Smithsonian’s four National Programs, SITES
constructed exclusively to house collections from the
makes available a wide range of exhibitions about
natural world and the curators and scientists who
art, science, and history, which are shown not only
conserve and study them. NMNH is the world’s most
in museums but wherever people live, work, and
visited museum and it remains the largest of the
play: in libraries, science centers, historical societies,
Smithsonian Institution’s bureaus, which encompass
community centers, botanical gardens, schools,
the National Zoo and sixteen museums, laboratories,
and shopping malls. In 2002, SITES celebrated
and galleries in Washington and New York.
50 years of connecting Americans to their shared
cultural heritage.
promachoteuthis
megaptera
For more information on NMNH, visit:
www.mnh.si.edu.
For exhibition descriptions and tour schedules,
visit: www.sites.si.edu.
Dr. Clyde
Roper
has gleaned much
about the lives and likely habits
of these intriguing
deep sea dwellers.
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d
e
EXHIBITION
SPECIFICATIONS
f
REGISTRARIAL REQUIREMENTS
The exhibition has been designated “moderate security” by
CONTENTS
SITES. Institutions hosting the exhibition must provide the
Approximately 15 freestanding
following security and environmental controls:
panels; giant squid beak and
giant squid beak
Guards or other trained personnel must monitor the
suckers; other squid species
exhibition at periodic intervals when it is open to the
specimens; video; high-impact
public, and at all times during unpacking, installation,
interactives; labels
de-installation, and packing. All entrances and exits in
PARTICIPATION FEE
the exhibition area should be monitored while the
$15,000 for a 12-week booking
exhibition is open to the public.
period, plus prorated shipping
The exhibition area must be locked and secure during
closed hours.
SIZE
185 square meters
Objects must be handled by personnel trained in
(2,000 sq. ft.), estimated
handling museum objects.
Temperature must be constant at 68–72 degrees F,
WEIGHT
TBD
relative humidity must be 45–50%, and light levels
must not exceed 20 foot-candles. No direct sunlight
CRATES
may reach the objects.
TBD
Adequate fire protection must be provided.
SECURITY
Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited in
Moderate
the staging, storage, and exhibition area.
TOUR BEGINS
Spring 2004
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g
h
i
BENEFITS OF HOSTING
CONTACTS
As a host of In Search of Giant Squid, you
SCHEDULING
INFORMATION
CONTENT AND
DESIGN INFORMATION
Ed Liskey
Jennifer Bine
Scheduling & Exhibitor
Project Director
Relations Coordinator
202.357.3168 x145
202.357.3168 x121
[email protected]
will receive the following:
Complete curatorial and registrarial
information.
Complete shipping, handling, and
ctenopteryx sicula
[email protected]
installation instructions.
Wall-to-wall insurance coverage under
a. Giant squid carcasses have washed up on every continent except
Antarctica.
the Smithsonian’s policy.
b. The first complete giant squid specimen available for study,
Newfoundland, 1874.
Public relations support, including
sample press release, images, and
c. Though it makes for an exciting story, real giant squid do not seek
out and attack humans.
a national press campaign.
d. Sucker marks on a sperm whale’s skin — evidence of combat
with a giant squid. Courtesy Clyde and Ingrid Roper
Annotated bibliography, speakers list,
film list, and information on arranging
for programs featuring the exhibition’s
e. Captain Nemo and his crew desperately fight off attacking squid
in this original illustration from Jules Verne’s classic novel
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. ©1999 North Wind
Picture Archives
lycoteuthis diadema
f. Hundreds of gripping suckers line a giant squid’s eight arms and
two tentacles.
g. Powerful suckers help giant squid capture prey.
curator, Dr. Clyde Roper.
Ability to establish links on and between
SITES’, the National Museum of Natural
History’s, and your institution’s websites.
h. Fueling the mystery surrounding the giant squid, Pierre Denys de
Montfort’s 1802 illustration shows a monstrous sea creature
swallowing an entire ship at sea.
i. In his hunt for a giant squid, Clyde Roper, center, sent a oneperson submersible one-half mile below the surface of the ocean.
All images courtesy National Museum of Natural History unless
otherwise noted.
histioteuthis
bonnellii
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