In an amazing deep-sea discovery, scientists have filmed a colossal squid swimming freely in the ocean for the first time. This happened nearly 100 years after the species was first discovered.
According to The Metro, the rare video was taken by marine researcher on the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s ship, Falkor. The sighting happened during a trip between Argentina and Antarctica.
The young squid, about 30 cm long, was seen on March 9 near the South Sandwich Islands. It was swimming 600 meters below the surface and was filmed using a special underwater robot.
Colossal Squid Seen Alive in the Deep Ocean
The species, called Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni (or colossal squid), was only known before from dead remains found in whales’ stomachs or caught by fishing boats. This is the first time anyone has seen one alive in its natural deep-sea home.
Have a look at the video:
Young Colossal Squid Caught on Camera, Alongside Another Rare Deep-Sea Species
The young colossal squid, still clear and see-through because it hasn’t fully grown, was seen moving slowly and creepily through the dark ocean using its long arms. When fully grown, it can reach up to 7 meters long and weigh almost 500 kilograms, making it the heaviest animal without a backbone in the world.
Dr. Kat Bolstad from Auckland University of Technology, who helped confirm the squid’s identity, said, “It’s exciting to see the first video of a young colossal squid in its natural home. It’s amazing to think they don’t even know humans exist.”
One of the most special things about the colossal squid is that it has hooks on its arms that can spin, which makes it different from other types of glass squid.
As part of the same deep-sea mission, scientists also recorded the first video of another rare squid called the glacial glass squid which was back in January.
Rare Squid Discoveries Show How Little We Know About the Deep Ocean
“These back-to-back sightings of two rare squid species underscore just how much of our oceans remain unexplored,” said Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. “The ocean continues to reveal its wonders, and we are only just beginning to understand the diversity that lies beneath.”
These exciting discoveries have amazed marine scientists and ocean fans around the world. They give us a rare look into the mysterious creatures living deep in the Southern Ocean.
