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Colossal Discovery: Scientists Capture First-Ever Footage of Colossal Squid in the Wild

Alexis Thornton

Last month
first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, in its natural habitat. Photo by Schmidt Ocean Institute.

More than a century after the colossal squid was first identified, scientists have finally captured its elusive presence in the wild—offering a rare and mesmerizing glimpse into the life of one of the deep ocean's most mysterious giants.

In a historic moment for marine biology, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor (too), have recorded the first confirmed video footage of a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) swimming freely in its natural habitat. The footage, taken in March near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, marks a breakthrough in our understanding of this rarely seen deep-sea creature.

Using a remotely operated vehicle named SuBastian, researchers filmed a juvenile squid at a depth of about 1,968 feet (600 meters). Though the species can grow to a staggering 23 feet (7 meters) and weigh over 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms)—making it the heaviest invertebrate on Earth—this young squid measured just under 1 foot (30 centimeters) in length.

A Rare Glimpse at a “Teenage” Squid

Colossal and Glacialis Squid / Photo by: Schmidt Ocean Institute

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