James Owen
for National Geographic News
September 27, 2005
Like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel, an enormous tentacled creature looms out of the inky blackness of the deep Pacific waters.
But this isn't science fiction. A set of extraordinary images captured by Japanese scientists marks the first-ever record of a live giant squid (Architeuthis) in the wild.
The animal—which measures roughly 25 feet (8 meters) long—was photographed 2,950 feet (900 meters) beneath the North Pacific Ocean. Japanese scientists attracted the squid toward cameras attached to a baited fishing line.
The scientists say they snapped more than 500 images of the massive cephalopod before it broke free after snagging itself on a hook. They also recovered one of the giant squid's two longest tentacles, which severed during its struggle.
Bout damn time. Looks kind of eerie to see it in that first picture.
About damn time is right! This is awesome...I kept watching all the Discovery channel shows about this search and I kept getting let down...until now. Yay giant squid!
It's a shame they were only able to take pictures, film would have been nice.
What's cool though is that they think there's an even bigger species out there :seamonster:
the article wrote:Calamari as big as car tires might sound an appetizing idea, but jumbo-sized squid usually contain high levels of ammonia and their meat is said to taste like floor cleaner.
!
