Question

One of the largest invertebrates on our planet, the colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamilton reaches maximum lengths of 40-50 feet and can weigh over 1,500 lbs! Although sightings of living colossal squids are rare, pieces of the horn-like beak have been discovered in the gut contents of sperm whales. In life, the beaks surround a tongue-like organ with a raspy, scraping surface similar in structure to other smaller mollusks. To what major mollusk clade does Mesonychoteuthis belong?

Answer 1

The colossal squid, known as Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, belongs to the class Cephalopoda, which also includes other marine animals like octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish. It is the world's largest mollusk.

Step-by-step explanation:

The colossal squid Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni is a member of the class Cephalopoda, which is a large and diverse group of marine animals characterized by their bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of tentacles. Members of this class also include octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and nautiluses. Cephalopods are known for their intelligence, complex eyes, and a closed circulatory system. They are all predators with beak-like jaws, and they can exhibit vivid coloration for camouflage. The colossal squid is indeed the world's largest mollusk, highlighting the extreme size variation within the phylum Mollusca, which ranges from microscopic snails to the massive squid.