Colossal Squid Filmed In Ocean For The First Time

A colossal squid has been filmed successful its earthy situation for nan first clip since nan type was discovered 100 years ago.

The 30cm-long (11.8in) juvenile was caught connected camera astatine a extent of 600m (1,968ft), adjacent nan South Sandwich Islands successful nan southbound Atlantic Ocean.

A squad of scientists, led by a University of Essex academic, recorded nan footage successful March during a 35-day quest to find caller marine life.

Experts judge colossal squid tin turn up to 7m (23ft) successful magnitude and measurement up to 500kg (1,100lb) - making them nan heaviest invertebrate connected nan planet.

The mollusc was discovered connected nan 100-year day of it first being identified and named.

Crew onboard nan Schmidt Ocean Institute's Falkor (too) alloy utilized a remote-controlled conveyance to spot it.

Chief intelligence Dr Michelle Taylor, from nan university, said nan squad was initially unsure what nan squid was but filmed it because it was "beautiful and unusual".

The footage was past verified by Dr Kat Bolstad, who said erstwhile squid encounters had mostly been arsenic remains successful whale and seabird stomachs.

"It's breathtaking to spot nan first successful situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to deliberation that they person nary thought that humans exist," she said.

Little is known astir nan colossal squid's life cycle, but they yet suffer nan transparent quality of juveniles.

Another distinguishing characteristic of nan type is nan beingness of hooks connected nan mediate of their 8 arms.

Dying adults person antecedently been filmed by group fishing, but person ne'er been seen live astatine depth.

The Natural History Museum has suggested it is hard to estimate nan world organization of colossal squids.

In 2022, nan institution said nan deficiency of observations meant that "even to this day, nan tremendous invertebrates still straddle nan statement betwixt fable and reality".

Scientists besides revealed that, successful January, they captured footage of a glacial solid squid for nan first clip ever.

"The first sighting of 2 different squids connected back-to-back expeditions is singular and shows really small we person seen of nan magnificent inhabitants of nan confederate ocean," added Dr Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institute's executive director.

"These unforgettable moments proceed to punctual america that nan water is brimming pinch mysteries yet to beryllium solved."