The Kraken is a mythical creatures said to inhabit the deep oceans of the world. Sailors report that it is octopoid, with large tentacles that are able to break ships apart. Such accounts stem from the medieval era onwards. In some legends, the Kraken is instead depicted as a squid, similar to the animal rooted in scientific fact, the giant squid. In fact, this creature may have inspired the deeply-rooted mythology of this mythical beast.
The above picture is from:
Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des mollusques…
By C.S. Sonnini