http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/09/0927_050927_giant_squid.html


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/09/photogalleries/giant_squid/images/primary/squid2.jpg

No that would make one heck of a calamari fry.

The severed tentacle that broke off of the creature at the 4 hour mark (it got entangled on a piece of equipment) was 5.5 *meters* long, and still thrashing when they got it on deck. It must have been quite the sight to see, and I too wondered if the crew wasn't tempted to fry part of it up and sample it...

This was reported on the BBC yesterday also:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4288772.stm

Regards,
Nydia

About time. Smart move, using sperm whales to guide them to the catch.

I for one can't wait until we get more info on what is at the bottom of our oceans. There is a vast amount of sea life down there that we don't know anything about, and they find things every year which is either a new species or a species long thought extinct. Exciting times if we can get down there and start exploring the depths.

Hehe, I was just reading about this and went to post it here. Truly awesome. I'm hoping some more info comes out and they actually specify what species it is. Now they just need to find a colossal squid, and I'll be happy. :)

Here in Monterey we have the deepest submarine canyon in North America... MBARI sends its little unmanned subs down there and is constantly finding really cool stuff like:

http://www.mbari.org/news/news_releases/2005/lures.html

I'm waiting for the day that some giant sea monster comes up from the depths and starts attacking.

A bit to note on the sperm whale bloodhound technique: scientists have actually been using this method for quite some time, and have gone so far as to attach cameras to the whales. As more info comes in, it's likely that we'll be able to find the squid much more easily... most cephalopods die when they mate (both the females and males). Furthermore, they also usually have a specific time (or times) of year when a massive breeding frenzy occurs, so if you look for dead squid, follow the whales around and look for a pattern of migration, we might be able to find a breeding population of squid.

Someone posted this on the forum where I originally found that story.


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39045000/gif/_39045759_colossal_squid2_203inf.gif
Kind of puts things into perspective.

Back in my college days I was a king of late night B movie trivia from such titles as hell comes to frogtown and such. One night, kicked back about 3am in sweats and a t shirt, at the frat house, drinking a beer, watching USA up all night or something, and this horrid movie was on. Tentacles or something.

They find a boat all wrecked and the cast speculates on what did it. Killer whale? giant shark? Finally, the old geezer says "I'm thinking (dramatic pause) giant squid". The rest of the cast gasps and we adopted a new catch phrase.

Anytime someone would say "I'm thinking" you'd hear one of us chime in "Giant squid!" and we get a chuckle (yeah, we were drinking alot).

Seems the movies had it right! :p

Hehe, the colossal squid's a lot scarier sounding. ;) The giant might have suckers, but take a look at these things: http://www.kiwicareers.govt.nz/jobs/6b_lif/m0272012.jpg

Yeesh.