Scientists Dissect Rare 770-Pound Colossal Squid
- 10 years ago
A colossal squid that was discovered earlier this year is a female and was carrying eggs. It was recently examined by scientists.
Witnessing a large squid is quite a sight. One that was recently pulled from Antarctic waters is absolutely huge, weighing approximately 770 pounds.
The colossal squid, which is sometimes referred to as the Antarctic or Giant Cranch Squid, is a female and was carrying eggs when she was found during the southern hemisphere's summer.
Following the discovery, the squid had been kept in freezing conditions at a museum in Wellington, New Zealand. It spent about 8 months frozen, but has since been thawed and is providing scientists with some much-needed insight into the species.
The female squid is the prime specimen to study. Kat Bolstad from Auckland University of Technology explained “This one had two perfect eyes. They have very large and very delicate eyes because they live in the deep sea. It's very rare to see an eye in good condition at all.”
Kat went on the say the squid is the ‘most perfect colossal squid’ she has ever seen. The researchers behind the probe hope to learn where the colossal squid fits into the food chain, how the species lives and dies and the amount of genetic variation between differing types of squid.
Witnessing a large squid is quite a sight. One that was recently pulled from Antarctic waters is absolutely huge, weighing approximately 770 pounds.
The colossal squid, which is sometimes referred to as the Antarctic or Giant Cranch Squid, is a female and was carrying eggs when she was found during the southern hemisphere's summer.
Following the discovery, the squid had been kept in freezing conditions at a museum in Wellington, New Zealand. It spent about 8 months frozen, but has since been thawed and is providing scientists with some much-needed insight into the species.
The female squid is the prime specimen to study. Kat Bolstad from Auckland University of Technology explained “This one had two perfect eyes. They have very large and very delicate eyes because they live in the deep sea. It's very rare to see an eye in good condition at all.”
Kat went on the say the squid is the ‘most perfect colossal squid’ she has ever seen. The researchers behind the probe hope to learn where the colossal squid fits into the food chain, how the species lives and dies and the amount of genetic variation between differing types of squid.