A gigantic squid-like creature found in deep ocean waters worldwide. The kraken closely resembles a squid but is much larger and has an external shell. The males have a single crab-like claw growing directly from the mantle along with the tentacles. As the creature ages the claw grows larger.

Kraken are primarily scavengers and usually remain in only the deepest parts of the ocean where they feed on dead sunken animals. Occasionally, when food supplies run low, they will rise to the surface and become hunters. Large whales are their favorite prey.

They kill whales by wrapping their tentacles around them and biting off chunks of flesh with their sharp, horny beaks until the whale either bleeds to death or weakens from blood loss and drowns. Then the carcass is taken back to the depths where it is consumed.

Kraken attack ships in the same manner, by wrapping their tentacles around it and breaking it apart with their beak until it sinks. The ship itself and any human survivors are not known to be eaten. It is believed that the ships are destroyed because they are seen as competition for food.

The attacks generally occur in cold waters, if the kraken ascends in warmer waters it will not be able to descend again and will die at the surface. At the time of death the creature's heavy shell pulls it back to the ocean floor where it is cannibalized.

See Also: Sea Monsters