Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Scientists capture giant squid on camera
Reuters - YAHOO! ^ | 9/27/05 | Reuters

Posted on 09/27/2005 5:24:09 PM PDT by SinisterDexter

LONDON (Reuters) - Japanese scientists have taken the first photographs of one of the most mysterious creatures in the deep ocean -- the giant squid.

Until now the only information about the behavior of the creatures which measure up to 18 meters (59 feet) in length has been based on dead or dying squid washed up on shore or captured in commercial fishing nets.

But Tsunemi Kubodera, of the National Science Museum, and Kyoichi Mori of the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, both in Tokyo have captured the first images of Architeuthis attacking bait 900 meters (yards) below the surface in the cold, dark waters of the North Pacific.

"We show the first wild images of a giant squid in its natural environment," they said in a report on Wednesday in the journal Proceedings B of the Royal Society.

Little is known about the creatures because it has been so difficult to locate and study them alive. Large ships and specialist equipment, which is costly, are needed to study deep sea environments.

The Japanese scientists found the squid by following sperm whales, the most effective hunters of giant squid, as they gathered to feed between September and December in the deep waters off the coast of the Ogasawara Islands in the North Pacific.

They used a remote long-line camera and depth logging system to capture the giant squid in the ocean depths.

"The most dramatic character of giant squids is the pair of extremely long tentacles, distinct from the eight shorter arms. The long tentacles make up to two-thirds of the length of the dead specimens to date," the scientists said in the journal.

They added that the giant squid appear to be a much more active predator than researchers had suspected and tangled their prey in their elongated feeding tentacles.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Japan; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: animals; biology; calamari; creature; cryptozoology; cthulhu; giantsquid; japan; kraken; marinebiology; oceanography; science; squid
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last

An undated handout combination image released September 27, 2005 by the Royal Society shows the first photographs of a live giant squid in its natural environment, taken by Japanese scientists in the Pacific Ocean.

1 posted on 09/27/2005 5:24:10 PM PDT by SinisterDexter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

Thats not big...


2 posted on 09/27/2005 5:26:31 PM PDT by Dog (I can't give that information Chief in the open I demand the cone of silence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter
Dang, if that Ain't Architeuthis Dux...I don't know WHat else is.

I've read Peter Benchley's Beast countless times when I possessed the Readers Digest version; also saw the film version starring William Petersen of CSI: Las Vegas fame.

3 posted on 09/27/2005 5:28:05 PM PDT by ExcursionGuy84 ("Jesus, Your Love takes my breath away.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

Move along folks - this is not a Hillary story.


4 posted on 09/27/2005 5:28:17 PM PDT by patriot_wes (papal infallibility - a proud tradition since 1869)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

Yawn. Irwin Allen saw it many times. ;)


5 posted on 09/27/2005 5:29:26 PM PDT by JoJo Gunn (Help control the Leftist population. Have them spayed or neutered. ©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: patriot_wes
"Move along folks"

But Daddy I don't want to!!

*juts out lower jaw & lip*

6 posted on 09/27/2005 5:30:46 PM PDT by ExcursionGuy84 ("Jesus, Your Love takes my breath away.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter
All I sea is raw raw calamari.
7 posted on 09/27/2005 5:31:35 PM PDT by dts32041 ( Robin Hood, stealing from the government and giving back to tax payer. Where is he today?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

Are they sure it wasn't Helen Thomas out for a swim?


8 posted on 09/27/2005 5:32:45 PM PDT by GreenHornet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Dog
Thats not big...

Ha! ...I was scuba diving off Baja in Mexico, and it is imperative to get out of the water if you see a humbolt (sp) squid.

A 1m-2m squid can drag a scubadiver down to his/her death and will eat you buy pulling plugs of your flesh out an acorn-sized piece at a time....and they get into a feeding frenzy just like sharks, but worse.

If A. Dux is encountered over 3-5m long, it could probably instantly kill you. They are extremely fast, violent, and powerful. They would only take out chunks about the size of a grapfruit.

9 posted on 09/27/2005 5:33:08 PM PDT by DCBryan1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: patriot_wes

10 posted on 09/27/2005 5:36:34 PM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DCBryan1

There is a National Geographic show on that shows another, larger species of humbolt squids in the Phillipines which are even more aggressive and dangerous....great show if you can catch it. A husband an wife team go down and are almost immediately attacked and harrassed by the squids. ....they were scientist and had a few divers in the water constantly fending off attacks. I think one shot shows the guy getting dragged down about 50 feet in about 1/2 second.....scares the bejeebers outta you.


11 posted on 09/27/2005 5:36:35 PM PDT by DCBryan1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

Heck.

I used to see pictures of giant squid each week on "Voyage to See the Bottom." Starring Capt. what's-his-name Krane and Admr. Nelson.


12 posted on 09/27/2005 5:38:21 PM PDT by Edit35
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCBryan1

Chilling. I suppose if the ocean is warmer, Humbolt and Dux will be coming to a beach near you.


13 posted on 09/27/2005 5:40:00 PM PDT by cloud8
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter

this isn't news Al Sharpton was on TV this weekend


14 posted on 09/27/2005 5:41:34 PM PDT by databoss (WMD's, Syria and North Korea...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCBryan1

I wish we could spend some money on deep sea exploration. Space is boring.


15 posted on 09/27/2005 5:42:41 PM PDT by -=[_Super_Secret_Agent_]=-
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: cloud8

It's Bush's fault!


16 posted on 09/27/2005 5:44:16 PM PDT by DCBryan1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter
Sooner or later this will be a Helen Thomas thread. Meanwhile...


17 posted on 09/27/2005 5:50:23 PM PDT by Graymatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graymatter

lucky snake...now if it were julliet duffy......shudder...


18 posted on 09/27/2005 5:53:25 PM PDT by DCBryan1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: SinisterDexter
Finally!

Big BUMP for science!

19 posted on 09/27/2005 5:56:44 PM PDT by higgmeister (In the shadow of The Big Chicken)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DCBryan1

LOL. Post 17 only shows the elusive Hermit Squid in its natural environment. I will have to do some research for the pic of the Duffy diver.


20 posted on 09/27/2005 5:57:25 PM PDT by Graymatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson