Giant of the Deep: Colossal Squid Spotted Alive for the First Time Ever!

Until now, no one had observed the species alive in the deep sea.

The Initial Discovery Of The Colossal Squid 100 Years Ago

Schmidt Ocean InstitutePreviously, only a handful of live specimens had been seen. Most of what is known about the species has been gleaned from fragments, often found in sperm whales’ stomachs.

The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) was first identified in 1925 when two arm crowns were found in a sperm whale’s stomach near the Falkland Islands. British zoologist Guy Coburn Robson examined the remains and formally described the species, naming it after E. Hamilton, who made the initial discovery.

For decades, any knowledge about the colossal squid was limited to similar fragments. It wasn’t until 1981 that a complete specimen was recovered, and later, in 2003, researchers found a 17.7-foot subadult female weighing around 661 pounds.

In 2007, the largest known specimen, weighing around 1,091 pounds, was captured and is now displayed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

However, in all that time, the colossal squid managed to remain largely elusive. Researchers had never observed the species in its natural deep-sea habitat — and even now, they hadn’t expected to.

Yet last month, a team of international researchers and crew on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too) used the ROV SuBastian to capture live footage of the deep ocean.

The First-Ever Footage Of A Colossal Squid In Its Natural Habitat

Schmidt Ocean InstituteThe research vessel Falkor (too), which allowed an international team of scientists to make this discovery.

The discovery came as part of a 35-day expedition searching for new marine life. On March 9, a full 100 years after the species was first identified, the team saw a baby colossal squid. While adults can grow to more than 20 feet in length, this specimen was just under a foot long.