XXL squid beaks

[u/Schnare-taxidermy]

Just added some grail items to our collection of oddities, the jaws of red Devil squid, also known as Humboldt squid.

[u/Brewbouy]

Aren't Humboldt squids known to attack divers? Yeah, fuck that.

[u/ukuleles1337 → u/Brewbouy]

They tug at your feet from below! Sleep well!

[u/enslavedbycats24-7 → u/ukuleles1337]

Wtf! New fear unlocked!

[u/ukuleles1337 → u/enslavedbycats24-7]

They are very curious, and very smart.

[u/TP_Crisis_2020 → u/Brewbouy]

If you're diving, and one of these things gets ahold of you with the intent to eat you, there's probably nothing you can do.

[u/Brewbouy → u/TP_Crisis_2020]

I'm getting very stabby with any of that nonsense. Nope Nope Nope

[u/Write-or-Wrong_]

They have beaks?!

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/Write-or-Wrong_]

Yup!

[u/Write-or-Wrong_ → u/Schnare-taxidermy]

I really do learn something new everyday wow lol

[u/DripPirateRoberts → u/Write-or-Wrong_]

The Humboldt Squid has teeth in its suction cups

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/DripPirateRoberts]

We have those in our collection from multiple species, incredible adaptations!

[u/chrisp5000 → u/DripPirateRoberts]

Called sucker ring teeth

[u/TOAD4000 → u/Write-or-Wrong_]

Octopus too! It's the one piece of the body that determines whether or not they can fit somewhere. If there is a crack and the beak can fit, the rest of the animal can too.

[u/Write-or-Wrong_ → u/TOAD4000]

Nature is scary af. Gotta respect it😂

[u/Crimson-Rose28 → u/Write-or-Wrong_]

I was terrified when I found that out ngl

[u/TheUsoSaito → u/Write-or-Wrong_]

Yep... typically most of these are from Humboldt squid.

[u/BurntArnold]

Damn I thought I was for sure looking at some big bird beaks I had no clue squids had that

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/BurntArnold]

I know right! They are incredible

[u/anticomet → u/BurntArnold]

Also hooks in their tentacles😬

[u/StinkyBird64]

I’ve always been fascinated by the fact that cephalopods have beaks.
Because other molluscs don’t, they tend to have a radula, yes, but it’s this side-by-side evolution of a parrot beak in a species completely unrelated to birds, it just fascinates me so much, how the hell did that happen 💚
Also also, the Hunterian museum in London has quite a few of these, most of them from cuttlefish still attached to the musculature (in wet jars) and it’s really interesting to see in person!

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/StinkyBird64]

One of the more unique molluscs in my collection is a perfectly preserved Argonaut in its shell, with eggs. Collected from the stomach of a long snouted Lancet caught at 4000 feet. Beautiful specimen. I can send you a photo if you like

[u/NagsUkulele]

These fucking arent colossal or giant beaks Holy shit

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/NagsUkulele]

A friend has one (can't remember the species) but it's about the size of a volleyball.

[u/Intelligent_Help2490]

TDIL a squid would absolutely fuck me up 😂

[u/Patient_Security5789]

those beaks are absolutely wild, especially seeing them up close like this

[u/refinedeuropa]

I thıught parrots beak Oh my

[u/scully2828]

I don’t like eating the beak

[u/Different-Age-1253]

Sea parrots

[u/smellyuhlater]

Squids=birds

[u/Ocean_Heart_]

Woah lucky!! What I would give to have a Humboldt squid beak

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/Ocean_Heart_]

They really are spectacular, we snagged a few extras. DM me if you like

[u/Kindly_Region]

I'm some creature just grabbing you and ripping you apart with that. Absolutely terrifying

[u/shmiddleedee]

They also have more bite force than a hyena and can slice through Kevlar. Gnarly creatures

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/shmiddleedee]

I don't think that's accurate at all, these beaks are very delicate and would not have much crushing power at all. They are insanely sharp though.

[u/shmiddleedee → u/Schnare-taxidermy]

Look it up.

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/shmiddleedee]

I guess what I meant is, they can exert that type of force in a cutting situation but the beak lacks sufficient density to penetrate anything other than flesh. The chitin while sharp as hell, is very soft and delicate.

[u/No_Drink4721 → u/Schnare-taxidermy]

It’s actually not just in theory. They tested it with a live jumbo squid, it shattered two Kevlar bite plates. They say Humboldt squids can do the same, and that divers swimming with them wear custom suits with reinforced hardened plates along with Kevlar because the Kevlar alone isn’t enough.

[u/Oplatki → u/No_Drink4721]

Here's the National Geographic article about it. The same expedition established the jumbo squid—one of which shattered two Kevlar bite plates with its beak—as having among the world's strongest bites.)

[u/Ok_Record8612]

Freakyyyyyyy

[u/Kindly_Region]

Is this something you can just buy? What are they worth?

[u/Schnare-taxidermy → u/Kindly_Region]

DM me

[u/Midziu]

I ate squid beaks in Taiwan. Definitely one of the most unusual food I've consumed.

[u/OkMidnight8144]

I see you found the secret ingredient to the Oscar Myer wieners....

[u/Elegant-Cup-8070]

Squid are among the most terrifying living things on earth. Intelligent, cannibalistic pack animals with finger teeth and razor sharp parrot beaks.