Giant Squid Captured on Film in the Depths of the Ocean
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor have successfully filmed the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) alive for the first time. This remarkable achievement was made near the South Sandwich Islands in the Atlantic Ocean at a depth of around 2,000 feet [3][4].
The colossal squid, the heavyweight champ of the invertebrates, can weigh more than half a ton and grow into a behemoth with eyes the size of basketballs. It holds the title of the heaviest invertebrate on Earth [1]. During the expedition, experts Kat Bolstad and Aaron Evans confirmed the identities of the filmed mollusks. Bolstad stated that the colossal squids have no idea humans exist [2].
The colossal squid can be distinguished from the glacial glass squid by the hooks in its middle arms. The glacial glass squid, known for its ghostly transparent body and signature "cockatoo pose," had never been filmed alive before. However, the Schmidt Ocean Institute team recently captured the first-ever footage of the glacial glass squid in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica [2].
Deep-sea squids are as elusive as they are massive, making human exploration difficult. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) like SuBastian are best positioned to observe these elusive creatures due to their extreme habitats. The Schmidt Ocean Institute’s expeditions are deeply engaged in exploring unique deep-sea ecosystems that likely include various biota [2].
Besides the groundbreaking first live filming of a colossal squid juvenile and the glacial glass squid, no other deep-sea squid species recently observed and filmed alive by the Falkor have been explicitly reported in the current search results [2][3]. The ongoing missions continue to explore poorly known deep-sea habitats, so further discoveries are anticipated but not yet reported in this material [2].
The new discoveries include the first in-situ sightings of the Ram's Horn Squid (Spirula spirula) in 2020 and the Promachoteuthis in 2024 [2]. With the use of submersibles and a bit of luck, scientists are slowly uncovering even the most elusive of deep-sea squids. The sighting of the colossal squid coincides with the 100-year anniversary of its formal identification [1].
References:
- The Guardian
- Schmidt Ocean Institute
- National Geographic
- BBC News
The Schmidt Ocean Institute's SuBastian remotely operated vehicle (ROV) has also filmed the Ram's Horn Squid (Spirula spirula) alive, marking its first in-situ sighting in 2020 [2]. In the realm of environmental-science and technology, the Schmidt Ocean Institute continues to delve deeper into the future of oceanic exploration, aiming to unveil more secrets of the deep, such as the discovery of the Promachoteuthis in 2024 [2]. As Gizmodo reports, the Schmidt Ocean Institute's work in the field of science and technology has been instrumental in capturing groundbreaking footage of various elusive deep-sea squids, including the colossal squid, the glacial glass squid, and now the Ram's Horn Squid [3].
