Gonatus antarcticus

Gonatus antarcticus
Specimen from the Ross Sea of Antarctica (21 cm ML)
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Oegopsida
Family:	Gonatidae
Genus:	Gonatus
Species:	G. antarcticus
Binomial name
Gonatus antarcticus Lönnberg, 1898 [2]

Gonatus antarcticus is a squid in the family Gonatidae. The species is known with certainty only from southern Atlantic waters but it may have a circum-Antarctic distribution. ^{[3] [4]} Historically, G. antarcticus was known to scientists only from dead specimens caught by fishermen and remains found in the bellies of larger animals. However, in December 2024, a free-swimming live squid was captured on video at 7,000 feet by a remotely operated vehicle owned by the Schmidt Ocean Institute making a film for National Geographic. ^[5]

Distribution

G. antarcticus occurs in waters of the Southern Ocean. Its range may be circumpolar with an Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic distribution. ^{[6] [4]}

Ecology

This squid is eaten by several predators in the Southern Ocean, like colossal squid, sperm whales, seals and (when smaller) penguins and albatrosses. ^[5]

Based on stable isotopes analysis, the squid may be a top predator in its natural habitat. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. Barratt, I.; Allcock, L. (2014). "Gonatus antarcticus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014 e.T163362A1002013. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T163362A1002013.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
2. Julian Finn (2016). "Gonatus antarcticus Lönnberg, 1898". World Register of Marine Species . Flanders Marine Institute . Retrieved 6 March 2018.
3. Kubodera, T. (2006). Gonatus antarcticus Lönnberg 1898. Tree of Life Web Project.
4. Xavier, J.C. & Rodhouse, P.G. & Trathan, P.N. & Wood, A.G. 1999. A Geographical Information System (GIS) Atlas of cephalopod distribution in the Southern Ocean. Antarctic Science, Published online on May 6, 2004 doi : 10.1017/S0954102099000097
5. Robles-Gil, Alexa (June 11, 2025). "This Elusive Antarctic Squid Was Seen for the First Time". The New York Times . Retrieved 2025-06-10.
6. Guerreiro, Miguel & Phillips, Richard A & Cherel, Yves & Ceia, Filipe R & Alvito, Pedro & Rosa, Rui & Xavier, José C. 2015. Habitat and trophic ecology of Southern Ocean cephalopods from stable isotope analyses. Marine Ecology Progress Series, published online on June 18, 2015. doi : 10.3354/meps11266
7. Cherel, Y & Ducatez, S & Fontaine, C & Richard, P & Guinet, C. 2008. Stable isotopes reveal the trophic position and mesopelagic fish diet of female southern elephant seals breeding on the Kerguelen Islands.Marine Ecology Progress Series, published online on October 28, 2008. doi : 10.3354/meps07673

External links

• "CephBase: Gonatus antarcticus". Archived from the original on 2005-08-17.