Scientists Examine Giant Squid Washed Up on Australian Beach

AP ^ | 7-22-02 | AP

[Pharmboy]

HOBART, Australia (AP) - A giant squid that washed up on an Australian beach could be a previously unknown species, scientists said Monday. The 550-pound creature was found dead Saturday on a beach in Hobart in Tasmania state and was transported Monday to the Tasmanian Museum. Experts were studying its unusual characteristics, which include long, thin flaps of muscle attached to each of its eight arms.

"What we've seen on this animal we haven't seen on other squid, and it's a significant feature," said zoologist David Pemberton. "It's basically like having a pile of muscles on your own body that nobody else has ... and I think it will rewrite the taxonomy."

The squid had lost its two tentacles, which Pemberton said would have been about 50 feet long.

Giant squid usually live on the edge of continental shelves, about 1,600 feet below the ocean's surface, he said.

Even if the scientists had wanted to, they couldn't have made a feast of the mysterious squid - Pemberton said it has a high ammonia content which would make it inedible.

[Pharmboy]

That last sentence was strange. Could the writer have had a few Foster's too many? "Calimari for five thousand, comin' right up mate!"

[dinasour]

 

Kind of reminds you of  Hillery, doesn't it?

 

 

[dinasour]

 

Fosters, Australian for beer. (audio)

[tm61]

what did the squid do to deserve that?

[dinasour]

My apologies to all calimari everywhere.

But don't you see it it the eyes, the dull mindless eyes.

[Alouette]

[StockAyatollah]

They'd need an awfully large barbie for that thing!

[DainBramage]

The squid had lost its two tentacles

We took our dog to the vet to do that. Then he settled down alot.

[h8drivenjustice]

Really, wat is this article about and what the hell are these replies about? :)

[ovrtaxt]

cheese and squid.

[h8drivenjustice]

yeah,

thats wat I was thinking but I didn't want to say anything : )

[Ole Okie]

A giant squid that washed up on an Australian beach could be a previously unknown species

I knew this would eventually happen.

Now the econuts will declare all Neptune's great oceans habitat, and nobody will be allowed near them.

habitat: I wonder what language the ancient Romans used when they wanted to B.S. somebody?

[TommyDale]

This giant squid was known to frequent the movie set of Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea".

[jimtorr]

""habitat: I wonder what language the ancient Romans used when they wanted to B.S. somebody?""

Classical Latin and Greek were very good for B.S., I understand. When that didn't work, they could always use Etruscan. Very mysterious people, the Etruscans. They were a significant people, even to the Romans.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

"the scientists . . . couldn't have made a feast of the mysterious squid. It has a high ammonia content which would make it inedible."

The Australian scientists determined that the ammonia content is almost as high as that found in a shiny black pants suit that one of their American colleagues had submitted for analysis.

[dinasour]

as high as that found in a shiny black pants suit...

Ah, the heartbreak of incontinence

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Best career move for Hillary: Celebrity Endorser for Depends

[xp38]

I don't know if it's still the case but years ago I was in the US there were ads for Fosters and that it was "imported"....when I ordered one it turned out it had been brewed in Canada.

[That Subliminal Kid]

Funny. Foster's isn't even brewed in Australia.