A team of international researchers has captured footage of a colossal squid in the deep sea for the first time, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. The juvenile specimen was found at a depth of 1,968 feet (600 meters) in the South Atlantic Ocean. Reaching lengths of up to 23 feet (7 meters), colossal squids are nearly the size of small fire trucks.
According to Kat Bolstad, a squid researcher at Auckland University of Technology, the young squid is almost entirely transparent and has thin arms. The species’ appearance changes with age, becoming darker and more opaque as adults.
The discovery was made during an expedition to search for new sea life near the South Sandwich Islands last month. Researchers verified the species identification with independent scientists before releasing the footage. Bolstad expressed excitement about capturing footage of a young colossal squid, describing it as “beautiful.”
The team is now testing different cameras in hopes of catching adult colossal squids. The young specimen’s discovery is significant, as adults are considered the world’s largest known invertebrates.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/colossal-squid-captured-on-camera-a66b3dacd4643eda7ad39a996dedbed0