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Giant Squid Beak and Radula

Preview A tongue-like organ called the radula rams food down the giant squid's throat.
(Sally Parker / Smithsonian Institution)

Inside the giant squid's sharp beak is a tongue-like organ called the radula (shown in yellow). Covered with rows of tiny teeth, it rams bite size pieces of food down the squid's throat. The pieces must be small because the giant squid's esophagus passes through the brain on the way to the stomach. Discover more about this captivating animal in our Giant Squid section.