Discover Who Emerges Victorious in a Giant Squid vs. Blue Marlin Battle

Written by Crystal
Published: March 21, 2023
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It’s an animal matchup! A giant squid vs. a blue marlin.

Blue marlins are carnivorous fish that grow up to 14 feet long, with a sharp sword-like jaw. Giant squids are also predatory sea creatures. They can grow up to 59 feet long, with tentacles measuring 30 feet or longer!

A giant squid can take down a whale, but can it take down a speedy blue marlin? Let’s find out. Follow along to discover who wins this giant squid vs. blue marlin battle.

Comparing a Giant Squid vs. Blue Marlin

Battle FactorsGiant SquidBlue Marlin
SizeLength of a bus
7.4 feet (longest mantle)
16 feet long (tip to tip)
43 feet (longest record)
Nearly 2,000 pounds
Length of four tennis nets
12 feet long
2,000 pounds
Speed25 mph68 mph
CharacteristicsCarnivorous
Monster-like appearance
Inhabits deep water
Uses binocular vision to hunt
Grabs prey with tentacles
Beak-like mouth can rip flesh
Carnivorous
Ecologically crucial predators
Sword-like upper jaw
Loves dining on squid
Slahes prey with jaw
Top AdvantagesElusive
Size
Strength
Aggressive
Speed
Strength

Giant Squid Fighting Advantages

Giant Humboldt Squid on a fishing boat.

The average giant squid length is 33 feet.

©mikeledray/Shutterstock.com

The mysterious giant squid is the largest invertebrate on Earth. The biggest specimen on record was 59 feet long and weighed almost as much as a full-grown elephant.

The myth of the Kraken likely came from sightings of giant squids, a real-life sea-beast. There are also numerous fishermen’s accounts of enormous squid taking down large whales. Whalers even said that sometimes they’d find footlong scars across the whale’s bodies that looked like they came from tentacles.

Massive Size

A giant squid is about as big as a bus. Looking at them directly, you’ll notice they have the typical squid-like mantle. The mantle is the body of the sea creature, in which all internal organs are stored. They also have a head, arms, and tentacles. To determine the full size of a giant squid, scientists measure the mantle length and the complete total length. The average giant squid length is 33 feet. Most giant squid research comes from specimens that wash up on beaches.

Sharp Tentacle Suction Cups

One thing is certain: giant squids have powerful tentacles with sharp chitin-lined suckers. Thanks to their elastic anatomy, they can stretch their tentacles out super far.

The giant squid could snatch the blue marlin, driving its sharp tentacles into the fish’s flesh. Combined with the suction effect, the blue marlin wouldn’t stand a chance of escaping.

Beach Ball-Sized Eyes

Could the blue marlin sneak up on the giant squid? It’s not likely. The giant squid’s large eyes help them navigate the deep lightless waters. They could see the large blue marlin long before it was within striking distance.

Giant squid’s eyes are the size of beach balls. On average, a giant squid’s eyes are 10 inches in diameter, or about as wide as a banana. They’re the largest eyes in the animal kingdom!

Blue Marlin Fighting Advantages

Jumping Marlin

These marlins will dive deeper and fight harder than any other marlin.

©Colin MacDonald/Shutterstock.com

Blue Marlins are highly predatory species that are part of the billfish family. They stun their prey by slashing them with their long sword-like bill.

There are four marlin varieties: white, black, striped, and blue. All of them are ferocious, but the blue marlin has a reputation for being the fiercest fighter.

Large Aggressive Fighters

Blue marlins will dive deeper and fight harder than any other marlin. These aggressive fighters can battle hard and long. They’re one of the world’s biggest, fastest, and most recognizable fish. Females are bigger than males, can reach lengths of 14 feet, and weigh nearly 2,000 pounds!

Anglers say the blue marlins in the Pacific Ocean are usually larger than the ones in the Atlantic Ocean. Their average size is 11 feet long with a weight of 200 to 400 pounds. Anything above 300 pounds is considered extremely large.

Slashes and Stuns Prey

The speedy blue marlin can reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. These fish are known to leave other species trailing in their wake. While hunting, they dash through schools of macro and tuna at full speed. Slashing its prey with its upper jaw, the blue marlin does a quick U-turn, then eats its stunned victim. Unfortunately for the blue marlin, the giant squid is too big to be stunned by the fish’s mighty dagger.

Amazing Acrobatics

Blue marlins are fast and athletic enough to leap their large bodies out of the water. If this fishy fighter accidentally comes across a colossal squid, they might be able to escape. But if the blue marlin is purposefully attacking the squid, its only weapon is its speed and sword-like jaw.

Escaping the squid’s two 30-foot-long tentacles will take a lot of work. But as long as the powerful fish can avoid being grabbed, it can do a lot of damage with its spear-shaped upper jaw.

Who Will Be the Sea Creature Champion?

The giant squid wins! It was a crazy giant squid vs. blue marlin battle. But the truth is the blue marlin never had a chance at taking down its long-armed opponent.

After the blue marlin slashes the giant squid, angry tentacles will respond. And remember, those tentacles are lined with razor-sharp suction cups. The squid would grab ahold of the marlin and never let go.

The blue marlin should have known better than to compete in this animal battle. Their sword-like jaw and super-fast speed are great for taking down schools of fish, but it’s no match for a mighty sea beast. Sorry fish fans. The giant squid emerges as the champion of this deep-sea showdown.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©


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About the Author

Crystal is a dedicated writer at A-Z Animals, focusing on topics related to mammals, insects, and travel. With over a decade of experience in the world of research and writing, she also fulfills the role of a skilled video and audio engineer. Residing in sunny Florida, alligators are Crystal's favorite animal.

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