
Colossal squid at Te Papa
We have one colossal squid on display, but did you know we have three colossal squid specimens in our collection?
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Open every day 10am-6pm
(except Christmas Day)
Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand
Meet the only colossal squid on display in the world. Find her in the Te Taiao | Nature exhibition.
Permanent exhibition
Te Taiao | Nature, Level 2
Free with museum entry
All ages
15 minutes
It’s the biggest colossal squid ever caught! Find it in the Ngā Kaitiaki | Guardians area in Te Taiao | Nature.
Colossal squid, the most massive invertebrates on the planet, make their home in the cold depths of the Southern Ocean.
Watch a video about how our specimen got from Antarctica to Te Papa, and learn about its bizarre anatomy – touch models of its beak and a tentacle hook.
Download a map of Te Taiao | Nature (2.03 MB)
We have one colossal squid on display, but did you know we have three colossal squid specimens in our collection?
Discover all about the anatomy this deep sea beast. Learn about it's massive eyes, sharp beak, and long hooked tentacles.
We know very little about the colossal squid’s life history, diet, or behaviour, because they live at extreme depths in freezing water, but here's what we do know...
Primary
An activity book to help kids explore the bizarre anatomy of the colossal squid, where it lives, how it came to Te Papa, and what it eats. Suitable for ages 10+.
Activity book
Watch highlights from a colossal squid examination at Te Papa as specialists in squid biology from Auckland University of Technology undertake research on this rare find.
Nine-year-old colossal squid super-fan Sam, and fish expert Andrew Stewart, share some astounding facts about this bizarre creature.
Find out about what the scientists and exhibition builders got up to to discover facts and then display one of the largest invertebrate on the planet.