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First Live Observation of Colossal Squid Filmed in the Deep Sea
For the first time, a colossal squid, Earth’s largest invertebrate, has been captured on film alive in its natural deep-sea habitat. This remarkable event provides unprecedented insights into the elusive creature, long shrouded in mystery and often referred to as a mythic sea monster.
Colossal Squid: From Myth to Reality
The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), evocative of the legendary Kraken, existed primarily in the realm of speculation for decades. Scientific understanding was limited to fragmented remains discovered within the stomachs of sperm whales, its primary predator. Zoologists formally classified the species in 1925 based on these digested remnants.
Early Encounters and Sightings
The first live encounter occurred in 1981 when Antarctic fishers inadvertently caught a colossal squid in their nets. Since that accidental capture, occasional incidents have involved colossal squids being found as fishing bycatch or washed ashore dead, offering limited opportunities for observation.
Deep-Sea Footage Confirms Live Specimen
Last month, researchers aboard a vessel from the Schmidt Ocean Institute, a US-based non-profit organization, were conducting surveys in the Southern Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands. Utilizing remotely operated vehicles equipped with deep-sea cameras and live-streaming the footage, an online viewer alerted them to a potential colossal squid sighting.
Expert Verification
Responding to the tip, the research team submitted the high-resolution video to independent cephalopod experts. These specialists verified the online observer’s intuition as accurate. The creature displayed distinctive hooks lining the suckers on its eight arms, a defining characteristic of the colossal squid. It was observed at a depth of 600 meters beneath the ocean’s surface.
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Juvenile Colossal Squid Observed
While adult colossal squids are estimated to reach lengths of up to 7 meters and weigh as much as 500 kilograms, the specimen documented in the recent footage was considerably smaller, measuring only 30 centimeters in length, indicating a juvenile.
Significance of Deep-Sea Exploration
“It’s astonishing that with each descent into the deep sea, we encounter novel and thrilling discoveries,” remarked Jyotika Virmani of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, underscoring the importance of continued ocean exploration.
Potential Previous Sighting Revisited
A possible prior recording of a colossal squid in its natural habitat was made in 2023 by researchers from Kolossal, another US non-profit. However, the earlier footage lacked sufficient quality for definitive confirmation. The new, high-quality recording lends credence to the 2023 sighting. Matt Mulrennan from Kolossal noted similarities between the two events, stating, “It’s the same size, same color, similar depths, both in the Southern Ocean,” while awaiting further corroboration of the earlier observation.
Ongoing Mysteries of Giant Invertebrates
Despite this new footage, no recordings exist of adult colossal squids in their natural environment. The life cycle and behaviours of these gigantic invertebrates remain largely enigmatic, according to Steve O’Shea, formerly of Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand, who originated the term “colossal squid” in the early 2000s. O’Shea, who once described them as “seriously evil denizens of the deep,” now suggests a revised perspective, viewing them more as “giant gelatinous ticks, simply blobbing around in the water column near the sea bed.”