The Kraken: when myth encounters science

Rodrigo B. Salvador; Barbara M. Tomotani

doi:10.1590/S0104-59702014000300010

The Kraken: when myth encounters science

Rodrigo B. Salvador, Barbara M. Tomotani

NIOO - Animal Ecology (AnE)

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Abstract

Hundreds of years ago, sailors were terrified by the Kraken, a dreadful sea monster capable of sinking ships and with a taste for human flesh. Today we know the legends of this monster were based on sightings of giant squids. This animal belongs to the genus Architeuthis and was the subject of many scientific studies. Despite its enormous size (up to 18m), the giant squid is astoundingly elusive and much of its biology remains unknown. Thus shrouded in mystery, Architeuthis is almost a mythological creature and has a place both in science and in myth: the very last of the legends to persist to this day.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	971-994
Number of pages	24
Journal	História, Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos
Volume	21
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-59702014000300010
Publication status	Published - 2014

Keywords

Architeuthis
cephalopod
giant squid
Microcosmus marinus
sea serpent
international

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10.1590/S0104-59702014000300010

Kraken_Tomotani
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AB - Hundreds of years ago, sailors were terrified by the Kraken, a dreadful sea monster capable of sinking ships and with a taste for human flesh. Today we know the legends of this monster were based on sightings of giant squids. This animal belongs to the genus Architeuthis and was the subject of many scientific studies. Despite its enormous size (up to 18m), the giant squid is astoundingly elusive and much of its biology remains unknown. Thus shrouded in mystery, Architeuthis is almost a mythological creature and has a place both in science and in myth: the very last of the legends to persist to this day.

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KW - cephalopod

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KW - Microcosmus marinus

KW - sea serpent

KW - international

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JF - Historia, Ciencias, Saude - Manguinhos

IS - 3

ER -

The Kraken: when myth encounters science

Abstract

Keywords

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