Colossal squid filmed by scientists for first time in ocean

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🗞️ Driving the news: A colossal squid has been filmed alive in its natural habitat for the first time since the species was identified a century ago
• Captured at a depth of 600 metres near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic, the 30cm juvenile was observed during a 35-day marine biodiversity expedition led by the University of Essex aboard the Falkor (too) research vessel

🔭 The context: The colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), first described in 1925, is the largest and heaviest known invertebrate, with adults estimated to reach up to 7 metres and weigh 500kg
• Until now, knowledge of the species was limited to carcasses found in the stomachs of predators like whales and seabirds or captured post-mortem by fishing vessels
• The region where the squid was filmed is so remote that the closest humans were aboard the International Space Station

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This unprecedented footage provides valuable insights into deep-sea biodiversity, highlighting both the ecological importance of uncharted marine environments and the critical role of exploration in understanding climate-sensitive ecosystems
• The documentation of elusive species like the colossal and glacial glass squids underscores how little is known about life in the deep ocean, especially in the Southern Ocean—an area crucial to global ocean circulation and climate regulation

⏭️ What's next: Researchers are expected to analyse the video footage and environmental data collected to better understand the behaviour, distribution, and development stages of deep-sea cephalopods
• These findings may inform future conservation strategies, given that deep-sea habitats face increasing threats from climate change, resource extraction, and limited governance
• Further expeditions are anticipated to expand documentation of rarely-seen species in the region

💬 One quote: "It's exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal and humbling to think that they have no idea that humans exist." – Dr Kat Bolstad, squid expert

📈 One stat: The colossal squid can weigh up to 500kg, making it the heaviest invertebrate known to science

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