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Colossal Squid Landed Intact In Antarctica

Posted by kdawson on from the bigger-than-giant dept.

zakkie writes "New Zealand fisherman have caught a massive 450-kg colossal squid in Antarctic waters. This is by far the biggest yet found, measuring over 10 meters in length and weighing 450 kg. It has been taken back to New Zealand for study." The NZ government's announcement page features a downloadable backgrounder on the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) and a 1.1-MB popup portrait of the animal in the fishing boat's hold.

4 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Yum? by jimstapleton · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Ammonia has a boiling point of 34C or 36C doesn't it?

    Cook it enough and the ammonia should go by-by (especially if you cut it into small enough pieces)

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  2. eyes and pigment by ObiWanStevobi · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why do these things, or any creature that spend their lives at such depths have eyes and coloration? Granted, it doesn't appear that many of these creatures has evolved in a long time, but many cave dwelling creatures seem to loose their eyes and pigmentation relatively fast.

    1. Re:eyes and pigment by rchatterjee · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The eyes could have use to see prey who have bioillumination at depth and to spot prey silhouetted against light from the surface at shallower depths.

    2. Re:eyes and pigment by fitten · · Score: 5, Interesting

      If you notice, it is red. This is actually useful at depth as light of those wavelengths are filtered by the water so that even at relatively shallow depths, reds appear as grays. At 'deep' depths, no red wavelengths of light are found (from the surface/sun) so animals that are red at that depth are 'colorless'.