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Plausibility of squid whales



The Next CEO of Stack Overflow4D Digestive System StructurePlausibility of Floating WhalesAdapting organs, How would they adapt?Metal-Feathered Macaw Viability Part 2: Best Wing Shape?How would giant penguins affect the arctic/Antarctic ecosystem?A proper latin name for an alien creatureGenetic modifications for the ultimate office drone?Designing a somewhat realistic “Astomi”: Filter-Feeding Humanoids?What practical forms can a “branch-tailed” organism have?What kind of places would goblins live in a fantasy setting with strong states?










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I am considering the possibility of having massive cephalopods evolving on my world and having them fill the niche of whales.



I've heard about how whales have evolved to increase in size for the purpose of obtaining more food. I've also read about the giant and colossal squid, so it doesn't seem too outlandish for a squid to evolve to the size of whales. The reason why whales can grow to such ridiculous sizes is that they don't have to support their own weight.



For locomotion, I'm thinking of elongating their mantles to allow them to swim in the same manner as whales.



As for feeding, I'm considering two main ideas. They are able to repurpose their siphon to take in water, and then keep some sort of baleen like mechanism that filters out krill, small fish, or whatever else is small and form schools on my world. My other idea is that they have webbed arms that close onto food and guide it into their beaks, which have been redesigned as a mechanism to trap large amounts of prey.



They play an important role in the ecosystem, similar to that of whales, but more stable. They reproduce faster and are more fertile when young. Instead of birthing single helpless calves, the create long chains of eggs. Whaling would be more sustainable on these creatures. They are fed upon by sharks and other smaller predators, as well as larger sea monsters. Their ability to consume smaller creatures lower on the food chain makes them more numerous and thus a more sustainable source of food.



Does anything about this sound implausible? Let me know.










share|improve this question









New contributor




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    4












    $begingroup$


    I am considering the possibility of having massive cephalopods evolving on my world and having them fill the niche of whales.



    I've heard about how whales have evolved to increase in size for the purpose of obtaining more food. I've also read about the giant and colossal squid, so it doesn't seem too outlandish for a squid to evolve to the size of whales. The reason why whales can grow to such ridiculous sizes is that they don't have to support their own weight.



    For locomotion, I'm thinking of elongating their mantles to allow them to swim in the same manner as whales.



    As for feeding, I'm considering two main ideas. They are able to repurpose their siphon to take in water, and then keep some sort of baleen like mechanism that filters out krill, small fish, or whatever else is small and form schools on my world. My other idea is that they have webbed arms that close onto food and guide it into their beaks, which have been redesigned as a mechanism to trap large amounts of prey.



    They play an important role in the ecosystem, similar to that of whales, but more stable. They reproduce faster and are more fertile when young. Instead of birthing single helpless calves, the create long chains of eggs. Whaling would be more sustainable on these creatures. They are fed upon by sharks and other smaller predators, as well as larger sea monsters. Their ability to consume smaller creatures lower on the food chain makes them more numerous and thus a more sustainable source of food.



    Does anything about this sound implausible? Let me know.










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.







    $endgroup$














      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$


      I am considering the possibility of having massive cephalopods evolving on my world and having them fill the niche of whales.



      I've heard about how whales have evolved to increase in size for the purpose of obtaining more food. I've also read about the giant and colossal squid, so it doesn't seem too outlandish for a squid to evolve to the size of whales. The reason why whales can grow to such ridiculous sizes is that they don't have to support their own weight.



      For locomotion, I'm thinking of elongating their mantles to allow them to swim in the same manner as whales.



      As for feeding, I'm considering two main ideas. They are able to repurpose their siphon to take in water, and then keep some sort of baleen like mechanism that filters out krill, small fish, or whatever else is small and form schools on my world. My other idea is that they have webbed arms that close onto food and guide it into their beaks, which have been redesigned as a mechanism to trap large amounts of prey.



      They play an important role in the ecosystem, similar to that of whales, but more stable. They reproduce faster and are more fertile when young. Instead of birthing single helpless calves, the create long chains of eggs. Whaling would be more sustainable on these creatures. They are fed upon by sharks and other smaller predators, as well as larger sea monsters. Their ability to consume smaller creatures lower on the food chain makes them more numerous and thus a more sustainable source of food.



      Does anything about this sound implausible? Let me know.










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.







      $endgroup$




      I am considering the possibility of having massive cephalopods evolving on my world and having them fill the niche of whales.



      I've heard about how whales have evolved to increase in size for the purpose of obtaining more food. I've also read about the giant and colossal squid, so it doesn't seem too outlandish for a squid to evolve to the size of whales. The reason why whales can grow to such ridiculous sizes is that they don't have to support their own weight.



      For locomotion, I'm thinking of elongating their mantles to allow them to swim in the same manner as whales.



      As for feeding, I'm considering two main ideas. They are able to repurpose their siphon to take in water, and then keep some sort of baleen like mechanism that filters out krill, small fish, or whatever else is small and form schools on my world. My other idea is that they have webbed arms that close onto food and guide it into their beaks, which have been redesigned as a mechanism to trap large amounts of prey.



      They play an important role in the ecosystem, similar to that of whales, but more stable. They reproduce faster and are more fertile when young. Instead of birthing single helpless calves, the create long chains of eggs. Whaling would be more sustainable on these creatures. They are fed upon by sharks and other smaller predators, as well as larger sea monsters. Their ability to consume smaller creatures lower on the food chain makes them more numerous and thus a more sustainable source of food.



      Does anything about this sound implausible? Let me know.







      reality-check creature-design anatomy sea-creatures






      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 2 hours ago









      Cyn

      10.8k12348




      10.8k12348






      New contributor




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      asked 2 hours ago









      John LewisJohn Lewis

      211




      211




      New contributor




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      New contributor





      John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      John Lewis is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.




















          2 Answers
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          $begingroup$

          I see nothing inherently wrong with this idea. In the absence of whales and other sea mammals something would fill the niche. Prior to mammals there were very similar reptiles, so why not squid.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$




















            2












            $begingroup$

            https://www.livescience.com/54870-giant-squid-may-be-school-bus-size.html suggests that existing giant squid could reach 20 meters in length. Given a lack of whales and the biological variations you've listed it seems entirely plausible for squid to reach the sizes you describe.






            share|improve this answer









            $endgroup$













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              $begingroup$

              I see nothing inherently wrong with this idea. In the absence of whales and other sea mammals something would fill the niche. Prior to mammals there were very similar reptiles, so why not squid.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$

















                2












                $begingroup$

                I see nothing inherently wrong with this idea. In the absence of whales and other sea mammals something would fill the niche. Prior to mammals there were very similar reptiles, so why not squid.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$















                  2












                  2








                  2





                  $begingroup$

                  I see nothing inherently wrong with this idea. In the absence of whales and other sea mammals something would fill the niche. Prior to mammals there were very similar reptiles, so why not squid.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  I see nothing inherently wrong with this idea. In the absence of whales and other sea mammals something would fill the niche. Prior to mammals there were very similar reptiles, so why not squid.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 2 hours ago









                  KilisiKilisi

                  13.6k12260




                  13.6k12260





















                      2












                      $begingroup$

                      https://www.livescience.com/54870-giant-squid-may-be-school-bus-size.html suggests that existing giant squid could reach 20 meters in length. Given a lack of whales and the biological variations you've listed it seems entirely plausible for squid to reach the sizes you describe.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$

















                        2












                        $begingroup$

                        https://www.livescience.com/54870-giant-squid-may-be-school-bus-size.html suggests that existing giant squid could reach 20 meters in length. Given a lack of whales and the biological variations you've listed it seems entirely plausible for squid to reach the sizes you describe.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$















                          2












                          2








                          2





                          $begingroup$

                          https://www.livescience.com/54870-giant-squid-may-be-school-bus-size.html suggests that existing giant squid could reach 20 meters in length. Given a lack of whales and the biological variations you've listed it seems entirely plausible for squid to reach the sizes you describe.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          https://www.livescience.com/54870-giant-squid-may-be-school-bus-size.html suggests that existing giant squid could reach 20 meters in length. Given a lack of whales and the biological variations you've listed it seems entirely plausible for squid to reach the sizes you describe.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 21 mins ago









                          krbkrb

                          2893




                          2893




















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