Scientists Photograph Giant Squid in Wild

[The Sushi Bandit]

This is a photo released by Dr. Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum, showing an 8-meter (26-foot) long Architeuthis attacking prey hung by a rope, white line at left, at 900 meters (yards) deep off the coast of Japan's Bonin islands, 1,000 kilometers (670 miles) south of Tokyo, in the fall of 2004. The camera was operated by remote control

http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF...

TOKYO (AP) - The giant squid can be found in books and in myths, but for the first time, a team of Japanese scientists has captured on film one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep-sea in its natural habitat.

The team led by Tsunemi Kubodera, from the National Science Museum in Tokyo, tracked the 26-foot long Architeuthis as it attacked prey nearly 3,000 feet deep off the coast of Japan's Bonin islands.

``We believe this is the first time a grown giant squid has been captured on camera in its natural habitat,'' said Kyoichi Mori, a marine researcher who co-authored a piece in Wednesday's issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.

[punpirate]

1. Validates, in a way...

... the attack of the giant squid in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

There are some big buggers down deep....

Cheers.

[northzax]

15. not much of a doubt that they are aggressive

they fight off Sperm Whales all the time. It's fabulous to have a picture, and some good samples to examine.

now if we could only get a colassal squid...

[JohnnyRingo]

2. WOW!!....Most don't realize the revelation of a giant squid on film

Once suspected as folklore, the giant squid is one of the mysteries of the deep.

At 8 meters, this one may be a smaller example of this effective killing machine.
Fortunately, they aren't known for invading shallow water tourist beaches.
Sharks would become as fearsom as jellyfish.

[SteppingRazor]

17. Why, Johnny Ringo...

you look like somebody just walked all over your grave...


Ahem. With the panicky tone of the message and the username, I just couldn't help the Tombstone reference

[fleabert]

3. wow. I have a thing for giant squid...

they are fascinating, and I love every single bit of new info out there about them!

thanks!

[shireen]

4. holy calamari! That's awesome! n/t

[Binka]

5. sHIREEN yOU vERY fUNNY!

[malaise]

6. Beautiful indeed

Some more links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4288772.stm

[Andromeda]

7. That's a fabulous picture...

Until now, we've only seen Architeuthis washed up on beaches.

[pinniped]

8. Sperm whales likes to dine on them critters.

.

[randome]

9. How Many Arms Does It Have?

I only count 7. Anyone else?

[SteppingRazor]

18. It's a squid, so it should have 10 n/t

[PA Mamma]

10. AMAZING !! Thanks - n/t

[xchrom]

11. thanks.

that is exciting news.

[whatever4]

12. My kid's gonna love this :)

editing here



Wow, I forgot how big these guys are

I remember my kid telling me about this too, he was so disappointed they all died.
http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?flok=FF...
"O'Shea said he hopes to capture juvenile giant squid and grow them in captivity. He captured 17 of them five years ago but they died in captivity."

[moggie]

13. That's a scary diagram!

They're... they're beneath the London streets?

*Glances nervously out of window*

I'm not taking the tube home tonight...

[Bridget Burke]

14. Wonderful!

Thanks for the information.

[The Revolution]

16. Cool.

Giant squid are really interesting. Hopefully this will teach us a lot about them.

[FM Arouet666]

19. Ironic that the poster of this tread would be named 'Sushi Bandit'

Get out the rice, let the Ika party will begin.

[lazarus]

20. Was just coming to post this

amazing story. I've been following the giant squid hunt on Discovery Channel for a time.

There are some big, scary things down there. The Navy knows, but it's all classified.

I'm convinced one day we'll find evidence of Carcharadon megaladon. Hopefully the Navy will reveal its evidence to oceanographers and marine biologists.