Japan researchers film live giant squid

[The Voice]

By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press Writer Fri Dec 22, 6:09 AM ET

In this photo released by Tsunemi Kubodera, a researcher with Japan's National Science Museum, Kubodera...

TOKYO - A Japanese research team has succeeded in filming a giant squid live — possibly for the first time — and says the elusive creatures may be more plentiful than previously believed, a researcher said Friday.

The research team, led by Tsunemi Kubodera, videotaped the giant squid at the surface as they captured it off the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo earlier this month. The squid, which measured about 24-feet long, died while it was being caught.

"We believe this is the first time anyone has successfully filmed a giant squid that was alive," said Kubodera, a researcher with Japan's National Science Museum. "Now that we know where to find them, we think we can be more successful at studying them in the future."

Giant squid, formally called Architeuthis, are the world's largest invertebrates. Because they live in the depths of the ocean, they have long been wrapped in mystery and embellished in the folklore of sea monsters, appearing in ancient Greek myths or attacking the submarine in Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

The captured squid was caught using a smaller type of squid as bait, and was pulled into a research vessel "after putting up quite a fight," Kubodera said.

"It took two people to pull it in, and they lost it once, which might have caused the injuries that killed it," he said.

The squid, a female, was not fully grown and was relatively small by giant squid standards. The longest one on record is 60 feet, he said.

Kubodera and his team had been conducting expeditions in the area for about three years before they succeeded in making their first contact two years ago. Last year, the team succeeded in taking a series of still photos of one of the animals in its natural habitat — also believed to have been a first.

Until the team's successes, most scientific study of the creatures had to rely on partial specimens that had washed ashore dead or dying or had been found in the digestive systems of whales or very large sharks.
Kubodera said whales led his team to the squid. By finding an area where whales fed, he believed he could find the animals. He also said that, judging by the number of whales that feed on them, there may be many more giant squid than previously thought.

"Sperm whales need from 500 to 1,000 kilograms (1,100-2,200 pounds) of food every day," he said. "There are believed to be 200,000 or so of them, and that would suggest there are quite a few squid for them to be feeding on. I don't think they are in danger of extinction at all."

[carson_8855]

That is one big son of a bitch.

[adnama..]

[quote=The Voice;2248082]By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press Writer Fri Dec 22, 6:09 AM ET

hey!, i live in tallmadge

[The Voice]

[quote=adnama..;2248626]

Originally Posted by The Voice

By ERIC TALMADGE, Associated Press Writer Fri Dec 22, 6:09 AM ET

hey!, i live in tallmadge

Poor Eric. Does he know this?

[adnama..]

he's been contacted and informed yes.

[The Voice]

Originally Posted by adnama..

he's been contacted and informed yes.

good.


I expect you to be completely moved out of my pe nis by Monday

[adnama..]

Originally Posted by The Voice

good.


I expect you to be completely moved out of my pe nis by Monday

it is getting a little clausterphobic in here.

[έχτίήčŦĩőŋ™]

[The Voice]

NZ fishermen land colossal squid


The squid took about two hours to land


New Zealand fishermen have caught what is expected to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid. Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450kg (990lb),took two hours to land in Antarctic waters.
Local news said the Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was about 10m (33ft) long, and was the first adult colossal squid landed intact.
One expert said calamari rings made from it would be like tractor tyres.
"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," Steve O'Shea from Auckland's University of Technology told local media.
The squid could be the largest ever found


Colossal squid, which are found deep in Antarctic waters, are thought to be about the same length as giant squid (Architeutis dux) but are much heavier.
The species was first identified in 1925, but very few specimens have been found.
The first specimen recovered intact, a 150kg (330lb) immature female, was caught on the surface in the Ross Sea near the Antarctic coast in April 2003.
'Nearly dead'
Mr Anderton said the fishermen had been fishing for Patagonian toothfish in deep Antarctic waters when the squid - which was eating a toothfish - was caught.
SIZE COMPARISON



"The squid was almost dead when it reached the surface, and the careful work of the crew was paramount in getting this specimen aboard in good condition," he said.
The squid was frozen in the ship's hull and brought back to New Zealand for scientific examination.
"The colossal squid has just arrived in New Zealand and it is likely that it is the first intact adult male colossal squid to ever be successfully landed," Mr Anderton said.

[seXybitCh23]

Damn. That thing.... is huge. And by thing I meant the squid and not your schlong.


But, seriously.. damn.