The colossal squid, the world’s largest squid species, was caught on video for the first time swimming in its natural habitat near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean at a depth of nearly 2,000 feet. A foot-long juvenile was recorded during a 35-day expedition by scientists from the California-based Schmidt Ocean Institute using their remotely operated vehicle called SuBastian.
The colossal squid can grow up to 23 feet in length and weigh over 1,100 pounds, making it the heaviest invertebrate in the world. However, this juvenile specimen is significantly smaller. The species was formally named and identified in 1925 but had never been recorded alive before this instance.
Experts are thrilled to have captured the footage, which provides a rare glimpse into the life of these deep-sea creatures. “It’s exciting to see the first in situ footage of a juvenile colossal squid,” said Kat Bolstad from Auckland University of Technology, who verified the video. The team also captured first-time video of the glacial glass squid, another deep-sea species that had never been seen alive before.
The capture highlights how much remains to be discovered about these magnificent creatures that inhabit the Southern Ocean. “The first sighting of two different squids on back-to-back expeditions is remarkable,” said Jyotika Virmani, executive director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-04-17/colossal-squid-captured-on-video-swimming-in-deep-sea-for-first-time-since-it-was-identified