Thu 22 Feb 2007
Colossal Squid Caught off Antarctica
Posted by Kevin under Thinking Aloud, News
February 22, 2007—In Antarctica’s Ross Sea, a fishing boat has caught what is likely the world’s biggest known colossal squid (yes, that’s the species’ name), New Zealand officials announced today.
Heavier than even giant squid, colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) have eyes as wide as dinner plates and sharp hooks on some of their suckers. The new specimen weighs in at an estimated 990 pounds (450 kilograms).
The sea monster had become entangled while feeding on Patagonian toothfish (toothfish photos) caught on long lines of hooks. The crew then maneuvered the squid into a net and painstakingly hauled it aboard—a two-hour process.
The animal was frozen and placed in a massive freezer below decks. Now in New Zealand, the carcass awaits scientific analysis.
“Even basic questions such as how large does this species grow to and how long does it live for are not yet known,” said New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton in a statement.
The deep-sea species was first discovered in 1925, though the only evidence was two tentacles found in a sperm whale’s stomach. Since then there have been only a scattering of sightings, including a colossal squid caught in 2003 in the same region as the recent find.
The new specimen is likely the first intact male ever recovered, Anderton said.
Squid expert Steve O’Shea told local press, “I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest.”
For one thing, added the Auckland University of Technology professor, the squid would yield calamari rings the size of tractor tires.
—Ted Chamberlain, National Geographic News
Thinking Aloud
My take is, the melting of Antarctica’s ice sheet must have releases some ‘quick’ frozen marine species into the ocean. We should be seeing more prehistoric marine lives soon, just look at what they caught off the coast of Japan.
Rare prehistoric shark appears off the coast of Japan
February 24th, 2007 at 8:19 am
This is really HUGE!!! I love the sea when I was young, but grew to know that deep under the water, there’ll be very scary “creatures”…
I guess there are more underwater giants that human has yet to discover.
February 25th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Interesting! I love sotongs!! but i can’t imagine eating calamari rings the size of tractor wheels. I always love to read about such intriguing news and findings. Do share more if you have!
February 26th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
strange looking shark….i love calamari rings too but i doubt this huge sotong still taste nice….so old liao….the meat must taste like tires/rubber bands…kekeke
but quite sad hor….once out of water they usually die….should put them back into the water hor.
February 26th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Ivy, you must be hungry. I wasn’t even thinking of food. I think it’s bigger than tractor wheels size.
I mised the calamari rings in Capetown. They made the best calamari rings in the world and yes, they were huge, sweet and juicy. Let me try to dig out some old photos. Now I’m hungry.
Jan, yes, very sad. They should just release it.
fannie, after I watch the movie Jaws, I was so scare even in swimming pool. I love the sea, but for a while I gonna make sure there were no cuts on me before swimming in the sea.
February 27th, 2007 at 11:48 am
As it turned out from looking at a bigger print of the picture, it wasn’t a man in the water after all.
I updated my blog to include the close-up picture.