A frame from the first colour film of a live giant squid in its natural habitat, recorded from a manned submersible off Japan's Ogasawara Islands in July 2012. The animal (#549 on this list) is seen feeding on a 1-metre-long Thysanoteuthis rhombus (diamondback squid), which was used as bait in conjunction with a flashing squid jig. The giant squid's silvery-metallic appearance came as a surprise to the expedition team, and had never been observed previously (stranded specimens invariably have reddish skin, if it is preserved at all).
This list of giant squid specimens and sightings from the 21st century is a comprehensive timeline of recent human encounters with members of the genusArchiteuthis, popularly known as giant squid. It includes animals that were caught by fishermen, found washed ashore, recovered (in whole or in part) from sperm whales and other predatory species, as well as those reliably sighted at sea. The list also covers specimens incorrectly assigned to the genus Architeuthis in original descriptions or later publications.
Compilation of published coordinates for specimens from 2001–2014 (some may be subject to significant rounding error and even indicate inland locations) Download coordinates as:KML
The beginning of the 21st century marked a turning point in humanity's understanding of the life habits of the giant squid, as it ushered in the first visually documented and incontrovertible observations of live animals, both adult and paralarval.[4] The quest to photograph or film a live giant squid—mooted since at least the 1960s[nb 2]—had begun in earnest in the 1980s and intensified significantly in the following decade, with several multi-million-dollar expeditions launched in the late 1990s. While these were all unsuccessful, they were followed by a steady stream of live giant squid "firsts" in the nascent years of the 21st century, and spurred further efforts that ultimately culminated in the first footage of live giant squid in their natural deep-ocean habitat—recorded off Japan's Ogasawara Islands in 2012.
The turn of the century also roughly coincided with a shift in the way new giant squid specimens were reported and information on them was disseminated. The rapidly growing popularity of the World Wide Web resulted in a proliferation of both online news sources and platforms for sharing and discussing said news, the latter facilitating a never-before-seen level of engagement between professional teuthologists and amateur enthusiasts.[nb 3] Consequently, much of the information on recent specimens is drawn from online rather than print sources, though scholarly papers continue to be published on individual specimens.[9] There exists a sizeable internet community of giant squid enthusiasts, and developments in the field—particularly videos of live animals—generate considerable excitement online,[10] a phenomenon that has been described as "giant squid mania".[11]
Giant squid are generally considered inedible owing to the high concentration of ammonium chloride in their tissues, which renders them exceptionally bitter.[12][nb 4] However, processing methods to make them more palatable have been investigated, with drying and boiling showing some success.[14] Beginning in the 2010s, a number of specimens have been prepared by hard curing, with some of these served for human consumption (e.g. #598, 603, and 617). Other forms of preparation have also been tried (e.g. #558, 602, 678, and 681), with occasional dubious claims of specimens being eaten raw (e.g. #83).
Quest for a live animal
"What will happen if someone finds it or takes its picture? It will lose some of its mystery, and, in a sense, we will be poorer for having been deprived of the anticipation of finding it. Often the realization of a long-held goal proves less fulfilling than the hungry waiting. [...] We need to find the giant squid, but we also need not to find it."
Though the total number of recorded giant squid specimens now runs into the hundreds, the species remains notoriously elusive and little known, and has retained its status as a "quasi-mythical" animal.[16] By the turn of the 21st century, the giant squid remained one of the few truly large extant megafauna to have never been photographed alive, either in the wild or in captivity. Marine writer and artist Richard Ellis described it as "the most elusive image in natural history".[17] Acquiring footage of the animal in its natural habitat became "the holy grail of natural history cinematography".[18]
Steve O'Shea (left) and Clyde F. E. Roper examining a giant squid specimen during the 1999 "In Search of Giant Squid" expedition
Early expeditions
1986–1990: Beebe Project
Though there had been proposals since at least the 1960s,[nb 2] the first dedicated effort to capture a glimpse of the animal in its natural habitat was probably the Beebe Project, initiated in 1986 and named after pioneering deep-sea explorer William Beebe. Like Beebe's original dives, it was initially conducted off Bermuda, which was not known for giant squid[23] (but see #191). In addition to finding the giant squid, the expedition's other main objective was the study of six-gill sharks of the genus Hexanchus.[24] The three-person submersible Pisces VI and the four-person Johnson Sea Link were used, the former reaching a maximum depth of 1.5 miles (2.4km).[25] Financed primarily by NOAA and organised and led by National Geographic photographer Emory Kristof, the expedition involved scientists from numerous universities and scientific institutions, including shark specialist Eugenie Clark and underwater explorer Joseph B. MacInnis; wildlife artist Glen Loates, known for his naturalistic depictions of the giant squid, was also involved.[26]
The expedition relocated to Newfoundland in 1988, at which point it was joined by giant squid expert Frederick Aldrich of the Memorial University of Newfoundland.[27] A series of seven dives to 300–1,000ft (90–300m) depth, lasting up to 10 hours each, were undertaken 8–50 miles (13–80km) east-northeast of Bonavista Bay on 7–11 November 1988, this time using the Canadian Navy's SLD-1 submersible and the diving support vesselHMCS Cormorant.[28] In 1989, Aldrich filmed a program about the giant squid for Fuji TV in Japan.[29] Efforts continued until at least 1990; at one point, a "gigantic squid jig, painted bright red and outfitted with numerous hooks" was trialled,[23] as was "hundreds of pounds" of raw tuna,[30] but all attempts proved unsuccessful.[23]
1993: misidentified live specimen
A photograph purporting to show a live Architeuthis dux alongside a diver was published in the 1993 book European Seashells,[31] but this turned out to be a sick or dying Onykia robusta[32] (misidentification #[7]). Richard Ellis wrote: "Fortunately for those who have devoted their lives to searching for Architeuthis, this was only an aberration, a case of mistaken identity."[17]
1996–2001: Smithsonian expeditions and increasing global interest
After years of planning, a series of further expeditions aimed at capturing footage of a live giant squid in its natural habitat were mounted in the late 1990s,[33] but all were unsuccessful.[34] The three Smithsonian-backed efforts comprised a smaller-scale undertaking in the Azores[nb 5] in July 1996 and two major expeditions—known as "In Search of Giant Squid"[nb 6]—to Kaikōura Canyon off New Zealand in January–March 1997 and February–March 1999 (the former covered by National Geographic[37] and also sponsored by the New England Aquarium,[38] and the latter including a BBC Television unit[39]). These expeditions—the latter two each costing around US$10million (equivalent to $18million in 2023)—employed a combination of sperm whale–mounted crittercams, baited "ropecams" or "drop-cams", an Odyssey IIBunmanned underwater vehicle, and the single-person submersible Deep Rover.[40] All three were led by giant squid expert Clyde Roper, with the first two also involving marine biologist Malcolm Clarke[41] and the last two Steve O'Shea of NIWA; additionally, National Geographic photographer Emory Kristof took part in the first Kaikoura expedition and oceanographer Gene Carl Feldman in the second.[42][nb 7] The Azores and first New Zealand expeditions were the subject of the 1998 National Geographic documentary Sea Monsters: Search for the Giant Squid;[43] the second New Zealand expedition was the subject of the Discovery Channel's Quest for the Giant Squid, released in 2000.[44]
Marine writer and artist Richard Ellis joined the first of the New Zealand expeditions and, in 1998, released a popular nonfiction book, The Search for the Giant Squid, further raising interest in the pursuit of a live animal.[45] In 2000, Roper said: "I would guess at this point a half a dozen individuals or groups would like to find one."[34] Oceanographic explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, led another unsuccessful expedition to New Zealand that ended in early 2001.[46]
21st century breakthroughs
2001–2002: first videos of live paralarvae and first photographs of live adults
The 2002 specimen from Goshiki beach (#464) is seen here tied with a rope, its delicate reddish skin only partially intact. Muscular constriction around the squid's giant eye obscures much of its surface in this image.
In February 2001, a team led by Steve O'Shea and also including Malcolm Clarke and Chung Cheng Lu succeeded in capturing the first footage of a live giant squid when they caught and filmed several paralarval individuals measuring 9–13mm (0.35–0.51in) in total length (#444).[48] The expedition involved the NIWAresearch vesselsRV Kaharoa and RV Tangaroa, and the New Zealandfishing trawlerTasman Viking.[49] Seven live individuals were retrieved in 12 days from some 100 tows.[48] However, attempts by aquaculturist Mike Tait to simulate their natural conditions in a tank proved unsuccessful and all the paralarvae soon died.[48] The expedition was the subject of the Discovery Channel documentary Chasing Giants: On the Trail of the Giant Squid, first aired in 2002.[49]
This milestone was followed by the first images of a live adult giant squid (at the surface) on 15 January 2002, near Goshiki beach in Amino-cho, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan (#464).[nb 8] The animal, which measured about 2m (6.6ft) in mantle length and 4m (13ft) including the head and arms, was found near the water's surface. It was captured and tied to a quay, where it died overnight.[51] These images were joined by a number of little-publicised photographs of live adults at the surface off Okinawa (#472, 473, and 488).[nb 9]
Renewed interest in filming a live giant squid followed the 2001 recording of an enormous specimen of bigfin squid (likely of the family Magnapinnidae) at great depth off Hawaii, which received global media attention,[55] and the observation of a possible giant squid egg mass in early 2002 (later determined to be that of Nototodarus gouldi—misidentification #[9]).[56] This was followed by further efforts by O'Shea to capture live paralarval specimens.[57]
2002–2003: Proyecto Kraken and other unsuccessful attempts
Another unsuccessful attempt to film a live adult in the wild, dubbed Proyecto Kraken ("Project Kraken"), was made off the Spanish coast of Asturias in September 2002 (with a preliminary expedition in October 2001).[58] This attempt was led by giant squid expert Ángel Guerra and involved the expedition ships Científico and Investigador and the Spanish Navypatrol shipMouro (P-24).[59] It initially employed a trio of autonomous underwater camera rigs connected to buoys at the surface, with adjustable visible and infrared lights and a combination of acoustic and optical lures.[59] During the latter part of the expedition, a remotely operated underwater vehicle was used within an area of 8 hectares (20 acres) across which 100 lots of weighted bait, totalling 1.5 tonnes (1.5 long tons; 1.7 short tons) of frozen mackerel and sardines, had been released.[59] Though unsuccessful in filming a live giant squid, Proyecto Kraken yielded a single well-preserved male specimen by trawl (#469).[59] The expedition was the subject of the 2003 documentary film Proyecto Kraken: En Busca del Calamar Gigante, released in English as Kraken Project: In Search of the Giant Squid.[59] A follow-up expedition off Asturias was planned for September 2006.[60] Later efforts were suspended due to the Spanish financial crisis.[61]
Amid growing competition between researchers, in 2003 it was reported that O'Shea was leading a team that planned to image a live giant squid by suspending cameras in the water column that would release "puréed" female gonads to attract a male[62] or else to release extracts from the gonads of both sexes from a remotely operated underwater vehicle at around 600m depth.[63] The first trial of this latter approach was planned for July 2004.[63] A number of unsuccessful attempts were also made by a different team to film a live giant squid off South Korea.[64]
Around the same time, Bruce Robison of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) led a twenty-one person team on the flagship research vessel RV Western Flyer (deploying ROV Tiburon) in search of the giant squid in Monterey Canyon, although this was not the only goal of the expedition.[65] In 1980, Robison had come close to catching a live adult specimen when, also in Californian waters, he pulled up a freshly severed tentacle (#246), complete with "grasping" suckers.[66]
The 50th frame of the more than 550 taken on 30 September 2004 by Kubodera and Mori's remote camera system, and the first to capture the giant squid (#492). The downward-facing camera shows the squid attacking horizontally, its head and arms in frame. Between the arms, the bait appears to be enveloped in an irregular ball formed by the two long tentacles, a mode of attack the authors compared to that of pythons.
2004: first photographs of live animal in natural habitat
It was only on 30 September 2004 that a live giant squid was photographed in its natural deep-water habitat, off the Ogasawara Islands, by Tsunemi Kubodera and Kyoichi Mori (#492), the culmination of an effort that spanned three years and 26 week-long expeditions.[68] The researchers employed a remote camera system suspended from floats at the surface on a long-line of up to 1,000m (3,300ft). The system consisted of a downward-facing camera with a light and data logger, below which extended a weighted 3m (9.8ft) fishing line containing three items of bait at intervals along its length: a large hook with a Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) of 22–25cm (8.7–9.8in) mantle length, a mesh bag containing euphausids (krill) to act as an odour lure, and finally a second bait squid directly attached to a weighted squid jig. The camera was configured to take one image every 30 seconds.
The giant squid attacked the deployed bait at a depth of 900m (3,000ft), becoming snagged on the associated jig. Over the next 4 hours and 13 minutes it periodically came into camera view as it struggled to free itself, gradually pulling the camera system up to a depth of around 600m (2,000ft) before apparently tiring and slowly sinking to almost 1,000m (3,300ft), at which point it severed its own tentacle and escaped. The tentacle was recovered and used to confirm the squid's taxonomic identity via DNA sequencing. It measured 5.5m (18ft) in length, with a tentacular club of 72cm (2.36ft), and was used to estimate the mantle length at around 1.6–1.7m (5.2–5.6ft), the standard length (excluding tentacles) at 4.7m (15ft), and the total length at more than 8m (26ft). The images provided a unique insight into the feeding habits of the giant squid and suggested that it was a far more active predator than had previously been thought; the findings were published in the 22 December 2005 issue of Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.[69] They were the subject of the 2006 Discovery Channel documentary Giant Squid: Caught on Camera.[70]
2006–2012: first video of live adult and subsequent efforts
Kubodera and his team, again working off the Ogasawara Islands, subsequently became the first to film a live adult giant squid on 4 December 2006 (#508).[nb 10] The animal was caught on a baited hook at 650m (2,130ft) depth and pulled to the surface, where it was recorded waving its arms and ejecting large volumes of water from its funnel. It was then brought aboard the research vessel, dying in the process. The squid measured approximately 1.4m (4.6ft) in mantle length and 3.5m (11ft) to the tips of the arms (both tentacles were missing), and weighed nearly 50kg (110lb). Notably, footage of the squid at the surface showed the animal exhibiting conspicuous countershading, being reddish dorsally and silvery-white ventrally. The observed forceful ejection of water from the funnel provided further evidence for an active lifestyle and significant swimming ability in this species.[75]
However, the quest to film a live giant squid in its natural habitat continued. An unsuccessful National Geographic–backed attempt off the Azores was made in 2011, headed by camera expert Martin Dohrn and assisted by Malcolm Clarke.[76] Working from the vessel Makaira, the team used a combination of their monochrome Starlight cameras and a purpose-built Colour Starlight camera (with a film speed equivalent to 2 million ASA), which were deployed at a depth of 500m on a custom-made stealth rig called "the Gupster" and linked to the surface by fibre-optic cable.[77] The project was the subject of the documentary film Hunt for the Giant Squid, released the same year.[78] Around this time, Steve O'Shea joined an expedition to the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) organised by a team of shark experts and anglers led by Chris Fischer that likewise aimed to film a giant squid in the wild,[79] despite the species having never been recorded there.[80] The team (minus O'Shea) had previously found a mutilated giant squid carcass (#540) off the Pacific coast of North America.[81] Working from the mother ship MV Ocean, the team trialled a number of approaches, including clipping a camera onto the fin of a Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas; similar to the method used by the MonsterQuest team in 2006, also in the Gulf of California[nb 10]), attaching a piece of preserved giant squid to an ROUV arm, doing the same with a bag containing a blended giant squid ovary, using an ROUV baited with a restrained live Humboldt squid, and using a deep-water ROUV with imaging sonar.[82]Gastric lavage (stomach pumping) of line-caught mako sharks provided no evidence of their predation on giant squid (though it confirmed that they prey on Humboldt squid), and by the end of the expedition no evidence of the giant squid's presence in the Gulf of California had been found.[83] Though these efforts were unsuccessful, they were the subject of "The Cannibal" (or "Cannibals of Cortez") and "Giants of the Deep" (or "Squid Row"), two episodes of the National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White (retroactively retitled Shark Men), first aired in 2011.[84] In 2012, a team including Natacha Aguilar de Soto of the University of La Laguna lowered a camera to a depth of 200–800m (660–2,600ft) off El Hierro, Canary Islands, in the hopes of filming a giant squid, but to no avail.[85] Around the same time, researchers at the University of Aberdeen's Oceanlab also expressed an interest in filming the giant squid in its natural habitat.[86]
2012: first videos of live animals in natural habitat
"The color was utterly different than any of us expected. The one that had been brought to the surface and that there's pictures of on the web [#508] was red, and a lot of deep-sea squid are red. But this was a spectacular silver and gold. It looks like it's carved out of metal; it's just absolutely breathtaking and completely unexpected."
The elusive footage was finally captured in July 2012 by a team comprising Kubodera, O'Shea and Edith Widder, after more than 285 hours underwater and 55 submersible dives.[88][nb 10] The project was a joint effort by NHK, Discovery Channel, and Japan's National Museum of Nature and Science. Early plans announced in 2010 called for the use of modified crittercams that would be attached to sperm whales using suction cups,[89] as in the Smithsonian expeditions of the 1990s, but these were later dropped. The attempt had originally been planned for 2011 but was postponed due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[90] Like Kubodera's two previous "firsts", the milestone was achieved off the Ogasawara archipelago. Initially, black-and-white video of a live giant squid (#548) was recorded on 1 July 2012[91][nb 11] at a depth of around 700m (2,300ft) from a "Medusa" remote camera system, which was suspended from a buoy at the surface. This system employed Widder's "e-jelly", a flashing ball meant to mimic the bioluminescent signalling of a panicking Atolla jellyfish, a behaviour hypothesised to be a last-ditch effort on the part of the jellyfish to attract a predator of its predator and thereby enable its escape.[2]
In total, five sightings of giant squid were made using this system, the last being the most impressive: the squid was recorded passing over the "e-jelly" and apparently attacking the camera system directly, lending credence to the "alarm hypothesis".[94] About a week after the first sighting using the "Medusa" system, a live animal (#549) was filmed by a three-man crew (including Kubodera) from a Triton 3300/3 submersible (launched from OceanX's research vessel MV Alucia[95]), providing the first ever colour and high-quality film of a live giant squid in its natural habitat. The squid, which was about 3m (9.8ft) long and missing its feeding tentacles, was initially observed at a depth of 630m (2,070ft) and later followed to around 900m (3,000ft). It was drawn into viewing range through a combination of a flashing squid jig and the use of a large Thysanoteuthis rhombus (diamondback squid) as bait. The giant squid was filmed feeding for about 23 minutes until it departed. The footage was the subject of two full-length documentaries that premiered in January 2013: NHK's Legends of the Deep: Giant Squid and Discovery Channel's Monster Squid: The Giant is Real.[96] In July of the same year it appeared in a special episode of the BBC series Natural World, titled "Giant Squid: Filming The Impossible", which was adapted from the NHK documentary.[97] O'Shea later opined that the extended submersible encounter was "[u]ndoubtedly the most-significant moment [...] Everything else pales in significance to this moment."[98]
2013–present: live animals documented at the surface
A diver swimming with a live giant squid (#637) in a harbour on the coast of Toyama Bay on 24 December 2015. The animal, who gained the nickname 'Heck', spent several hours in the harbour, where it was filmed by local divers before being guided out to sea. The resulting videos rank among the highest-quality live giant squid footage ever captured. Note the animal's splayed arms, which it repeatedly wrapped around the divers when approached.
Since the 2012 milestone, live giant squid have been photographed and filmed at the surface on a number of occasions, mostly in Japanese waters (#564, 569, 606, 613, 614, 615, 618, 626, 630, 635, 637, 639, 644, 659, 669, 673, and 677)—the majority of these as part of the mass appearance event in the Sea of Japan between January 2014 and March 2015[102]—but also off Spain (#648) and South Africa (#650). Additionally, two freshly stranded animals were photographed alive on South African beaches (#557 and 674), and at least four individuals were briefly kept alive in tanks in Japan (#573, 580, 587, and 632).[nb 12]
Notable among these encounters was a specimen (#637) seen in Toyama Bay, Japan, on 24 December 2015, the video of which is one of the highest-quality ever recorded.[100] The squid was apparently swimming normally when a local diving shop owner dove alongside it, and after a few hours of being filmed in a harbour the animal was guided back into the open ocean. It was estimated to be 3.7m (12ft) long excluding the tentacles,[104] and is believed to be a juvenile.[105] Two other specimens from Toyama Bay (#613 and 618) were similarly filmed by divers and were actually encountered slightly earlier, contrary to some claims about the former specimen being the first encounter of its type.[nb 13] Another noteworthy encounter was that between a paddleboarder and a badly injured individual (#650) off Melkbosstrand, South Africa, in March 2017, with the stricken animal filmed wrapping its arms around the paddleboard.[108]
"In terms of Architeuthis sightings, historically, all we've had are dead animals. Now, we're seeing live animals being photographed and filmed. The progress that's been made in securing footage of these animals, and in understanding their life history and biology, over the last few years is phenomenal, compared to where we were several years ago."
2013–present: further efforts to film live animals in natural habitat
In August 2013, Kirsten and Joachim Jakobsen announced an Evonik Industries–backed project to film a fully intact adult giant squid in its natural habitat off the Azores and thereby determine how the species uses its long tentacles (missing in the 2012 specimen) for feeding.[109] Efforts were ongoing as of 2015.[110] In September 2018, it was reported that Tsunemi Kubodera was to "hunt" giant squid in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in January–February 2019 for a documentary about his work on the species by filmmaker Shinichi Motoki.[111]
Another video of a live giant squid in its natural deep-water habitat (#664)—reported at the time as the second ever recorded—was captured in the Gulf of Mexico at 759m (2,490ft) depth in June 2019 by a NOAA-funded team that included Widder and marine biologists Nathan J. Robinson and Sönke Johnsen.[112] The animal was seen striking an "e-jelly" lure and attached bait bag before retreating. It seemed to track the up-and-down motion of the camera rig prior to striking, indicating that giant squid are primarily visual predators that actively stalk their prey.[113] It subsequently came to light that a seven-second clip of a live giant squid (#654)—little publicised initially[114]—had been captured in October 2017, off the southern coast of El Hierro in the Canary Islands at around 500m (1,600ft) depth, making the Gulf of Mexico video the third such recording.[115] In 2018, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling was used to monitor the spatiotemporal distribution of giant squid for the first time. The technique revealed the presence of giant squid in the Sea of Japan in winter but not in summer, in close agreement with historical stranding patterns.[116]
A giant squid (#672) was again filmed in its natural habitat on 19 March 2020, this time in Bremer Bay off southwestern Australia. It was recorded from a remote camera system at a depth of around 800m by a team once again led by Tsunemi Kubodera. The resulting footage was the first to show a giant squid using its tentacles for feeding.[117] A short documentary released in 2021 followed another effort to film an underwater encounter between a sperm whale and a giant squid, but off the Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe. As in the Smithsonian expeditions of the late 1990s, it involved attaching cameras to the whales using suction cups. In one of the resulting videos, an undetermined squid limb briefly came into view, but no definitive footage of a giant squid was captured.[118]
Spermatangia subcutaneously implanted around eyes. Beak increments used by Perales-Raya et al. (2020) to estimate age at 480 days. Beak preserved in 70% ethanol upon collection; rehydrated in distilled water for several days prior to age estimation.
Second record of living specimen collected in Spanish Atlantic waters. Caught by pair trawler Minchos V targeting blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou). Frozen immediately after measurements taken; later defrosted, dissected, and reconstructed. Placed in transparent glass case and fixed for 48 hours in 4% formalin; later preserved in 70% alcohol.
Melbourne Museum took possession of specimen on 7 February 2001; placed in preservative fluid. Fish and smaller squids found in digestive tract. Visiting scientist Mark Norman interviewed about find.
First video of live giant squid, albeit paralarval.[122] Specimens caught by team led by Steve O'Shea and also including Malcolm Clarke and Chung Cheng Lu, after ~100 tows in 12 days. Attempts by aquaculturist Mike Tait to simulate natural conditions in tank proved unsuccessful as paralarvae soon died. Identified initially by comparison with morphology of preserved paralarvae from New Zealand (totalling some 16 records) and later by DNA sequencing.[49] Featured in 2002 Discovery Channel documentary Chasing Giants: On the Trail of the Giant Squid.[49]
Caught by Spanish vessel Nueva Zumaia while trawling for swordfish after apparently being attracted to fish bait. Frozen at sea; landed in Vigo in early August and transferred to Spanish Oceanographic Institute (IEO) on 6 August. Biologist Mario Rasero of IEO interviewed about find. Planned to be preserved in methacrylate container with 50% alcohol after formaldehyde injected into tissues, and exhibited in museum.
Caught by trawler primarily targeting blue grenadier and secondarily dory. Squid was "just alive" when pulled up. Muscle tissue and part of arm/tentacle kept at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG), rest given to Melbourne Aquarium where frozen; due to be returned to TMAG but transfer not completed as of 7 October 2002.
On public display. Autopsied on Saint-Jean-de-Luz quayside on 23 October 2001; auctioned there shortly afterwards.[125] Stomach notably full. Estimated to be two years old. Oceanographic Museum of Monaco was in running to acquire specimen but owner CEPESMA gave preference to Musée de la Mer in Biarritz, who were to open gallery dedicated to deep-sea animals on 26 October; there subsequently exhibited. Preserved in mix of formaldehyde and alcohol.[125]
On public display. Caught by Fraserburgh trawler Marina Polaris. Specimen preserved in formaldehyde and displayed in custom-made tank at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.
Non-architeuthid. Photographed by photojournalists Jenny and Tony Enderby and posted on website of marine researcher Wade Doak. First known photo of such a squid egg mass (at least from New Zealand). Identified as egg mass of pelagic squid by Steve O'Shea (species later determined to be Nototodarus gouldi[126]). Resulting discussions brought to light several similar sightings (including a photograph from the same area), one later identified by DNA analysis as the egg mass of an arrow squid (Nototodarus sp.).
Found surrounded by gulls by crew of media and research sailing yacht Aldebaran during pilot whale research project in cooperation with SECAC, led by whale researcher Antonella Servidio. Appeared recently killed, probably by sperm whale, with bite marks on mantle. Dissected by biologist Uli Kunz in Tenerife port of Las Galletas; gladius extracted. Commented on by cephalopod expert Volker Christian Miske of University of Greifswald's Zoological Institute and Museum; beak and unspecified other parts preserved for scientific analysis in Greifswald.
Beak increments used by Perales-Raya et al. (2020) to estimate age at 415 days. Beak preserved in 70% ethanol upon collection; rehydrated in distilled water for several days prior to age estimation.
Likely broken up by surf. Reported as possible new species: "Experts found several characteristics which they say they have never encountered before – including long, thin flaps of muscle attached to each of the squid's eight arms."[128]Spermatophores found around base of arms.[127] Study supervised by David Pemberton, senior curator of zoology at Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. Sucker marks and scar on head point to likely encounter with male. Damaged by repeated freezing and thawing for public display; main specimen eventually discarded but some remains may have been retained.[129]
Captured during Proyecto Kraken expedition by Spanish pair trawlers Elena María and Bautista Pino ~300m from outer limit of first camera-bearing buoy; transferred to lead expedition ship Investigador soon afterwards where examined and dissected on deck. Claimed to be first male caught south of 55th parallel north in Atlantic,[59] or even only male specimen caught in the world.[130]Spermatophores embedded in skin. Autopsied at Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid.[59] Planned to be preserved in formaldehyde for display. Featured in 2003 documentary film Proyecto Kraken: En Busca del Calamar Gigante.[59]
Beak increments used by Perales-Raya et al. (2020) to estimate age at 670 days. Beak preserved in 70% ethanol upon collection; rehydrated in distilled water for several days prior to age estimation.
Donated to aquarium by local fisherman. According to Kubodera & Horikawa (2005), specimen belongs to morphological type with thick arms of medium length and longest arm IV measuring 1.2–1.3 times mantle length. Photographed lying alongside Ryukyu woman for size comparison.
Photographed alive at surface after being attracted by jig-caught Thysanoteuthis. Possibly first adult giant squid to be photographed alive (but see #464).
Photographed alive at surface with Megalocranchia. Possibly first adult giant squid to be photographed alive (but see #464). Countershading observed in Architeuthis for the first time.
Unsuccessful attempt made to haul specimen onto boat deck. Carcass was probably attacked by an animal, but was very fresh upon discovery. Photographs taken of floating carcass and severed arm. Steve O'Shea noted that suckers at base of arm fragment in photo appear unusually large relative to arm thickness for it to be Architeuthis,[132] though he considered this the "most likely" ID, with the "only alternative" being a giant onychoteuthid, though he thought this unlikely due to the locality.[133]
Crew of trimaranGeronimo, competing in round-the-world Jules Verne Trophy, reported being "attacked" by giant squid several hours after departing from Brittany, France. Squid purportedly latched onto boat and blocked rudder with two of its "tentacles". First seen by first mate Didier Ragot, by shining flashlight through porthole. Also seen by captain Olivier de Kersauson, who stopped boat, causing squid to let go.
Found in shallows by four fishermen. Length estimated by fisherman Anton Barnard. Remains in possession of Hermanus squid enthusiast Jean Francis Avenier.
On public display. Acquired by Steve O'Shea who examined it with Volker Miske of the University of Greifswald. Spermatophores found embedded in tissue outside range of own penis, suggesting male-on-male mating. Transferred to German Oceanographic Museum in Stralsund in May 2004 where it was examined by Miske and Götz Reinicke; exhibited there in 6m tank filled with formalin since 16 January 2005 as the first specimen on public display in Germany (unveiled at press event with Miske, Reinicke and museum manager Harald Benke).
Preserved in 10% formalin two hours after discovery. Mantle exhibited severe tissue damage possibly caused by nearby geophysical prospecting employing air-gun arrays.
Regarded by McClain et al. (2015) as "longest scientifically verified" and "largest recorded and well-preserved specimen in the contemporary, peer-reviewed literature". Tissues studied for concentrations of 14 trace elements. Digestive gland, gills, ink sac, branchial hearts, appendages, systemic heart, and brain removed during study.
Mantle only; caecum distended with prey, including fragments of an Architeuthistentacular club (carpus, manus and dactylus suckers, and dactylic pouch)
Female (mature)
ML: 1.6m; additional measurements of Architeuthis remains found in caecum
Stomach contents accessioned into the Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Earth & Oceanic Sciences (EOS) Research Institute, accession # AUT G.22
Caught in one of two locations: either off the west coast of South Island, near Hokitika Canyon, between July and August; or off Banks Peninsula, on the east coast of South Island, between December and February. Contents of caecum examined. Prey items attributed to Nototodarus sp. and Architeuthis dux. Presence of Architeuthis remains in caecum suggests cannibalism or autophagy.
On public display. Nicknamed "Archie". Caught by Falkland-registered trawler John Cheek (Fortuna Ltd.); immediately frozen. Donated by Alexander Arkhipkin of Falkland Islands Fisheries Department. Preservation overseen by mollusc curator Jonathan Ablett. DNA samples taken. Defrosted over 3 days and then measured by museum scientist Oliver Crimmen. Next injected with ~15 litres of 10% formol-saline solution and placed in purpose-built wooden container lined with rubber, filled with 3250 litres of water, 350 litres of formalin, and 125kg of rock salt. Finally transferred to 9.45m-long acrylic tank filled with 10% formol-saline solution. On display in undissected state at Darwin Centre, BMNH, but only viewable to public as part of behind-the-scenes tour (initially free 30-minute Darwin Centre Explore tour,[135] later expanded into paid 45-minute Spirit Collection Tour;[136] see photos). Central to plot of 2010 fantasy novel Kraken. Featured in "Life in the Dark", 2014 episode of documentary series David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities,[137] and in 2021 episode of documentary series Natural History Museum: World of Wonder.[138]
Reportedly largest known giant squid specimen. Found by British tourists Nick and Rosemary Pinfield on Farewell Spit Tours trip. Transferred to Steve O'Shea of Auckland University of Technology on August 25. Available for public viewing at university on October 11.
First images of live giant squid in its natural deep-water habitat. Line baited with squid and shrimp. Feeding behaviour observed; "Architeuthis appears to be a much more active predator than previously suspected, using its elongate feeding tentacles to strike and tangle prey".[67] Distal tentacle portion was still functioning upon retrieval at surface, with club suckers "repeatedly gripping the boat deck and any offered fingers". Press event with Tsunemi Kubodera held at Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science.[139] Subject of 2006 Discovery Channel documentary Giant Squid: Caught on Camera.[70]
Found and first reported by Jimmy Conway of Colliers. Photographed with Dennis Flynn at 10:45pm (local time) on 5 December 2004; measured in situ and collected by Paul O'Driscoll and Bob Richard later that night; turned over to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) following day. Necropsied by DFO scientist Earl Dawe on 11 January 2005 at Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre in St. John's together with other Newfoundland specimen from December 2004. Material found in stomach; digestive tract frozen for later study. Stranding possibly linked to unusually warm waters.
Found by Derwin Roberts of Triton. Necropsied by DFO research scientist Earl Dawe on 11 January 2005 at Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre in St. John's together with other Newfoundland specimen from December 2004. Stranding possibly linked to unusually warm waters.
On public display. Nicknamed "Cal". Displayed in 3.5-tonne block of ice that took 3 weeks to freeze (reported as largest man-made ice block in the world; prepared by Melbourne company Donohoes Ice[142]), initially at Melbourne Aquarium as part of "Monsters of the Deep" exhibit (from 26 December 2005[142]), later at UnderWater World as part of exhibit of the same name (from 27 December 2006). Originally purchased by Melbourne Aquarium curator Nick Kirby; total cost including transportation and preservation in ice block exceeded A$100,000 (equivalent to US$76,000 in 2023).[141] Donated in frozen state to Queensland Museum in 2008; ice chipped away over 3 days, specimen then thawed over a week, preserved in formalin, and placed in ethanol for storage in large fibreglass tank. After more than 5 years in museum lab, transferred from ethanol to glycerol for public display as part of "Deep Oceans" exhibit (28 March – 6 October 2014), later on level 2 (from 17 December 2014).
Entire; "poor condition"; all arms and tentacles damaged and incomplete (both tentacular clubs missing), mantle torn open and bearing row of sperm whale teeth holes, most internal organs missing
Found by Parks Canada staff. Photographed on beach by Heather Holmes. Beak and radula extracted for identification. Identification of specimen as A. dux confirmed by Steve O'Shea. Apparently attacked and killed by a sperm whale.
First male specimen from Mediterranean and third overall. Caught by fishing boat Nova Emi comprising skipper and owner Andrés Cánovas and three others. Taken to Grau de Gandia fish market off Playa de Piles and auctioned to Piles fishmonger Jesús Caudeli, who intended to display it, for 37 euro (equivalent to US$46 in 2023). Initially offered to University of Valencia, who rejected it; donated to CEPESMA. Tissues studied for concentrations of 14 trace elements. Digestive gland, gills, ink sac, branchial hearts, appendages, systemic heart, and brain removed during study. One of few CEPESMA specimens at Museo del Calamar Gigante not destroyed during storm of 2 February 2014. On temporary display in Biarritz from June 2014.
Studied by scientists of Investigadores del Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias (part of Spanish Institute of Oceanography) led by Pedro Pascual. Sex could not be determined due to absence of viscera. Bite in mantle caused by medium-sized cetacean such as pilot whale; may have killed squid or occurred after death.
Spotted and caught by local Kwon Cheong-geun while leaving for seaweed collection at 8:30am. First such specimen seen by fishery market officials. Sold for 100,000 won (equivalent to US$105 in 2023) after "fierce" bidding at agricultural and fishery market on day of capture. Announced by Ulsan's Buk-gu office the following day.
Nicknamed "Squid Vicious". Supplied by Steve O'Shea. Formerly on public display in 3.8m tank at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand, as part of "Freaky Fish" exhibit from 23 September 2006; partly preserved but displayed in chilled sea water (10–18°C) in new experimental approach.
Caught by skipper Hong Jeh Shan and mechanic Hong Shih Cheng (who came to global prominence in 2013 as the only fatality in the Guang Da Xing No. 28 incident). Took 7 fishermen nearly an hour to bring aboard.[145] Kept in freezer for months prior to being reported. Identified as giant squid by C. C. Wu of the Taiwan Department of Fish and Game. Photographed separately with kindergarten children and with Hong Chieh Shang, son-in-law of Hong Shih Cheng. Transported to Donggang fish market on 20 December where sold at auction for 17,000 yuan or around US$530 (equivalent to $801in 2023) to fishmonger Mr. Huang of Wumiao, Kaohsiung City, for subsequent slaughter and sale.[145] Capture date also incorrectly reported as December 2006.[147]
Sold for 400,000 won (equivalent to US$419 in 2023) at Busan Cooperative Fish Market. Sent directly to main branch of Shinsegae department store in Seoul where displayed in sea food section on morning of 19 November and priced at around 1,000,000 won (equivalent to US$1047 in 2023). Estimated to be more than 50 years old [sic] according to contemporary reports.
First video of live adult giant squid. Specimen was hooked when it attempted to eat a neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii; c. 55cm ML), which was itself attracted by bait of Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus; c. 25cm ML). Countershading and forceful ejection of water observed at surface. Sexual maturity determined based on immature ovary. Carcass preserved in formalin displayed at news conference at National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo on 22 December. Eye preserved in 4% formalin; sections of retina embedded in histologicalAraldite used by Nilsson et al. (2012) to measure rhabdom diameter (5–6μm).
Caught at dawn by 21-ton Haedong No. 5 captained by Kim Chang-yong; landed in Jukbyeon Port. Failed to sell at auction; cut up on-site by Haedong No. 5 shipowner Jo Okhwa. First recorded specimen from area according to Park Cheol-eon, former chairman of Jukbyeon-myeon. Dried specimen displayed in Hupo Fish Market, Hupo-myeon, Uljin-gun, in January 2007.
Found alive around 8am by visitor who came to watch sunrise with family; pulled to shore with help of several people and soon died. Discoverer photographed with severed arm. Remains taken to nearby restaurant to be cooked and eaten; mantle flesh reported to be 8cm thick.
Pilot whale made several side jumps to release tentacle and eat it. Photographed by Pablo Aspas; video also recorded. Led scientists to suggest that pilot whales may feed on giant squid. Size estimates by teuthologist Ángel Guerra. Piece of "fresh" arm and other remains also found near diving pilot whales.
Found in "very fresh" state (probably c. 24 hours after stranding). Photographed in situ with Ritchie Bauer of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG). Presumed female on basis of spermatophores embedded near base of arms, but no other reproductive tissues present. Muscle tissue and statolith collected by Greta Pecl of Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. Mantle and arm tissue samples taken by TMAG staff before transfer to Hobart; preserved in 95% ethanol. Specimen kept in formalin for a month before being preserved in ethanol. Collection, examination and preservation detailed in TMAG report.[149]
Possibly the smallest and most intact giant squid found in the region. Recovered by David Stout of North Fort Myers while fishing for tuna and mahi-mahi aboard Concrete Gringo in 1,200ft (370m) of water. Kept on ice by Stout before being transported to Mote Marine Laboratory, where it was examined and tentatively identified by Debi Ingrao. Estimated to be only 6 months old. Preserved in formalin. Sample used as part of mitogenomic study of Winkelmann et al. (2013).
Purchased day after capture by merchant Alessandro Mello for 530 reais (equivalent to US$272 in 2023). Taken to Niterói to be sold for 9 reais per kilo (equivalent to US$5 in 2023) at São Pedro seafood market. Martins & Perez (2009) wrote: "the fate of this specimen is currently unknown".
Caught at 8am. Lifted onto ship using large crane due to weight. Initially sold at fisheries market in Ganggu Port for only 30,000 won (equivalent to US$32 in 2023) due to lack of freshness and was to go to large restaurant (said to be enough food for >50 people) but was purchased again by National Institute of Fisheries Science for research purposes and moved to Pohang.
Said to be largest recorded specimen from Australian waters. Caught by trawler Zeehaan skippered by Rangi Pene. Identified as "colossal squid" in some early reports. Publicly dissected at Melbourne Museum on 17 July 2008 by team of experts led by Mark Norman. Preserved in 70% ethanol and 5% formalin buffered with tetraborate.[150]
Found by Santa Cruz researcher Sean Van Sommeran and other crew of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. Possibly died as a result of shark attack. Numerous photographs taken of specimen in water, during retrieval, on boat deck, and during dissection. Dissected on 26 June 2008 at Long Marine Lab by team including William Gilly, Ken Baltz, and John Field. Specimen was measured, checked for parasites, and tissue samples were taken. Examined again on August 22 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Covered in 2011 book Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid.[151]
Found by Alana Spragg and Bella Spragg. Probably died only a few hours before being found. Thought to be either a male or a juvenile due to small size.
Non-architeuthid. Found by Saanich residents Karia Leschke and Ron Lysek on their boat Stealaway. Identified (and re-identified) by invertebrate research biologist Graham Gillespie. Reported on 5 October.
Caught by fishing boat Ribamar owned by José Carlos and registered at Baleeira port in Sagres, Portugal. On 23 September taken from Sagres fish market to Gambelas campus of University of Algarve for study. Described by cephalopod specialist Teresa Borges as of "great importance to science".
October 2009 (caught several days prior to 14 October)
Caught by Celeiro-based trawler Minchos VI. Reported on 16 October; necropsy initially planned for following week but later delayed. Unusual for having intact eyes.
First spotted alive by kayaker from Barros who was unable to collect it but returned to shore to contact CEPESMA about find through 112 emergency number; could not relocate specimen as swept away by currents. Search operation launched involving firefighters and Guardia Civil from Llanes, Salvamento Marítimo, and local residents. Found dead by canoeist later same day at 6:40pm near Llanes port. Transferred to fish market where frozen awaiting transfetr to CEPESMA facilities in Luarca; necropsy planned for following week, later pushed back to first week of December; said to be first for specimen with intact eyes.
Group of five adult sperm whales and one calf photographed by Tony Wu. Steve O'Shea suggested adult whales may use remains of giant squid to teach calves how to hunt.
Caught by the trawler Minchos VI. Both this specimen and another caught by Minchos VI in April 2011 were noted for differing anatomically from other Spanish giant squid specimens.
Found on beach around 10am by local resident Man-soo Jeong. Reported to Dokdo Fisheries Research Center of the National Institute of Fisheries Science. Total weight not measured.
Probably attacked at sea. Initially identified as a colossal squid by Department of Conservation Wellington area manager, Rob Stone. Correct identification by Te Papa communications manager, Jane Kieg. Te Papa only interested in beak for examination due to poor condition of specimen.
Found by crew of MV Ocean ("Shark Men") while tracking great white sharks. Identification confirmed by giant squid expert Steve O'Shea. Featured in 2011 episode of National Geographic Channel series Expedition Great White (later retitled Shark Men).[157]
Caught by the trawler Minchos VI. Reported 11 April 2011; captured week prior. Both this specimen and another caught by Minchos VI the previous year were noted for differing anatomically from other Spanish giant squid specimens. Transferred to CEPESMA in Luarca for planned necropsy.
May have died shortly after mating. Found by Stuart fishermen Robert Benz, Paul Peroulakis, and Joey Asaro. Transferred to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission field laboratory in Tequesta on 27 June 2011, and to University of Florida later that day. Genetic samples taken. Mantle injected with formalin and specimen submerged in 10% formalin as part of two-week preservation process.
Found by Aquawork film crew during filming of documentary on local cetaceans. Floating specimen filmed with diver. Several shearwaters observed in area prior to discovery of carcass.
Caught at 8am by small fishing boat Myeong-Sho (1.42 tons) captained by Dal-Jun Yoon. Sold at Jeongja Market for 150,000 won (equivalent to US$135 in 2023).
Observed by Whale Watch Kaikōura tour group, including tour guide Sarah Rousseaux. Sperm whale (nicknamed "MatiMati") had been diving for around 45 minutes prior to observation.
Found by The Daily Telegraph columnist Al McGlashan during tuna and swordfish fishing expedition, after spotting albatross sitting on carcass. Tied to boat; photographed and filmed over period of 3 hours. Blue shark measuring 2.5m filmed feeding on remains. Others on board included Justin Lewis, a film crew, and Phil Bolton, fisheries officer with New South Wales Fishing and Aquaculture. Beak went on display as part of Australian Museum's Deep Ocean exhibition, beginning 16 June 2012.
First videos of live giant squid in its natural deep-water habitat. Black-and-white footage recorded from "Medusa" system ("e-jelly" lure attached to remote camera with red light source) suspended from floating buoy. First encounter took place on 1 July at 16:48[91] during second deployment (and first with "e-jelly"; two sequences recorded 4 minutes apart and third more than hour later); first viewed 3 July.[93] Next encounter recorded on third "Medusa" deployment 3 miles (4.8km) away and 5 days later.[160] This was followed by recording from manned submersible (#549) and then another encounter on fifth "Medusa" deployment on 11 July at 5:46am[91] (shown out-of-sequence in documentaries), in which squid passed over optical lure and "attacked" camera system in manner consistent with Edith Widder's "alarm hypothesis".[94]
Widely reported as first video of live giant squid in natural habitat (but see #548). Observed swimming against current and holding in its arms bait squid (1-metre Thysanoteuthis rhombus with flashing squid jig, attached to submersible with monofilament; mantle cavity stuffed with several blocks of syntactic foam to render only slightly negatively buoyant for slow descent[161]). Filmed from Triton 3300/3 submersible for 23 minutes by three-man crew comprising Tsunemi Kubodera, NHK cameraman Tatsuhiko Sugita,[161] and pilot Jim Harris, initially under low-light and then for 18 minutes under submersible's bright main lights, which apparently did not disturb the feeding squid. Expedition was joint effort by NHK, Discovery Channel, and Japan's National Museum of Nature and Science; scientific team was led by Kubodera, Steve O'Shea, and Edith Widder. Footage officially announced on 10 December 2012, by Robey (2012).
Largest known specimen from Mediterranean and fourth overall. Found by volunteers who moved it to Cala Arenas, then handed over to CEGMA who transferred it to Algeciras for freezing. Dissected in front of TV cameras on 1 February 2013 by staff from CEPESMA, CSIC, and CEGMA, including Ángel Guerra and Luis Laria. Internal organs examined and tissues sampled for heavy metals and genetic analysis. Specimen found to be extremely thin, with changes in digestive gland and hematopoietic organs. Placed in methacrylate container, first in preservative fluid for 1.5–2 months, then formalin. On public display at El Estrecho Natural Park information point from 22 May through October 2013.
On public display. Found by Christchurch recreational fishermen Jack and Sharon Osikai around 8am while returning from fishing trip; towed ashore behind boat. Marine biologist Megan Bosch of Kaikoura Marine Centre and Aquarium speculated bite marks on mantle might have resulted from attack by larger squid. Bosch dissected specimen live on TV3's Campbell Live on 4 February 2013. Stomach contents found to be "well-digested". Specimen on display at aquarium from March 2013 in five custom-made glass containers each holding different parts.
Caught by Shioji Maru. Species identification confirmed by COI sequence analysis. Exhibited at Kagoshima City Aquarium "Io World" between 20 November 2015 and 31 January 2016, preserved in ethanol.
Found by Marlborough resident Jason Gluer while quad biking. Inspected by ranger and photographs sent to Te Papa for research purposes. Measurements provided by Department of Conservation spokesperson Clare Duston.
Sighted by three Marine Mammal Observers (Luciana Leite, Daniel Campbell & Leonardo Versiani) on duty on board an operating seismic vessel. As the specimen was not examined its death cannot be unequivocally attributed to the seismic activity. Species identified by teuthologist Ángel Guerra from photograph by Leite. A "similar, smaller squid" was seen by Versiani in the same area earlier that month, but no photos were taken.
Caught by Yoshikatsu Maru in same purse seine net as 1487mm EL specimen; one of the two was exhibited at the Shimane Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center from 18 March 2015, preserved in ethanol.[162] Species identification confirmed by COI sequence analysis.
Caught by Yoshikatsu Maru in same purse seine net as 1629mm EL specimen; one of the two was exhibited at the Shimane Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center from 18 March 2015, preserved in ethanol.[162] Species identification confirmed by COI sequence analysis.
Caught in net of boat Mano Chum by Armindo Silva[163] (though widely reported as Eduardo Pinto[164]) with help of second fisherman, while fishing for "pescadas" and "sargos" beginning at 4am. Net torn during capture; second net required from colleague. Head cut off to fit into 5m boat. Landed at Sesimbra harbour where displayed until late morning. After no offers to buy specimen and auction sale at 1 euro per kilo or around €50 total (equivalent to US$66 in 2023), cut into pieces and given to friends; remaining 12kg to be consumed following day, possibly stewed with beans or fried. Marine biologist Emanuel Gonçalves interviewed about find.[164]
Likely carried from Carrandi Trench by strong northeast winds. Found by Gijón fishermen Caesar Ceñal and Pachi Sánchez. Brought to Gijón port and there examined by Luis Laria. Transferred by CEPESMA to Museo del Calamar Gigante in Luarca and frozen for necropsy. Necropsied by Ángel Villa and Roger Villanueva of CSIC on 29 September 2013 with male specimen from Palombina. Cause of death determined to be asphyxiation by larger female of possibly more than twice its weight, according to Luis Laria (first record involving such aggressive intraspecific behaviour; see #648 for second[165]).
mid-September 2013 [recovered just over 10 days prior to 1 October]
Found and documented by underwater photographer Enrique Talledo. Moved to Maritime Museum of Cantabria in Santander where specimen was cleaned, sampled for analysis, and placed in cold storage (initial cold shock at −20°C followed by −18°C) under direction of Gerardo García-Castrillo. On morning of 2 October specimen was injected with alcohol, covered with paper moistened with 10% formalin, and finally covered with transparent film; may eventually be put on display. Entire length initially reported as >10m and weight as 170, 174, or 180kg.
Found by someone on 19 October, then again the next day by Walvis Bay resident Johan van den Westhuizen, who provided measurements. Marine scientist Jean-Paul Roux from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources said "inspectors could not verify the species due its decomposed state".
Caught by fisherman Shigenori Goto, who also caught specimen on 10 February 2014. Found in net for Japanese amberjacks (Seriola quinqueradiata) at 70m depth at around 7am local time; videofootage recorded. Animal died shortly after being brought to surface. Reported by M. Higuchi of the Niigata Prefectural Fisheries and Marine Research Institute (where specimen was studied), who photographed it in Sado Ryotsu fishing port (see video). Delivered frozen to Sapporo Maruyama Zoo in Hokkaido, where thawed, spread out for display and frozen again; briefly exhibited there in frozen state in the open air from 1 January 2015 (freezing temperatures at the time kept it "fresh"). Visitors were invited to touch it but warned of its strong smell.
Caught by fisherman Shigenori Goto, who also caught specimen on 8 January 2014. Reported by M. Higuchi of the Niigata Prefectural Fisheries and Marine Research Institute, who photographed and dissected it with his co-worker at Sado Ryotsu fishing port.
Spotted by fisherman Tetsuo Okamoto while diving for turban shells at around 10:30am local time. Squid swam above Okamoto when he was at depth of ~8m. Squid was secured to boat with a rope and taken to Moroyose port; videofootage of live animal recorded. Reported by T. Yamaguchi of NHK.
On public display. Found by local fisherman and reported by T. Wada. Long arms folded for storage in freezer. Displayed at Kinosaki Marine World from 10 March 2014 as part of Backyard Tour, during which visitors could touch specimen.[168]
On public display. Caught by local fisherman affiliated with Kanagawa Eastern Fisheries Cooperative Association. Public dissection carried out by Tsunemi Kubodera, Toshiaki Kuramochi and Akiko Yatabe at Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park, Miura, on 8 August 2014 (covered by TV Tokyo). Dissection took 2 hours and involved removal of internal organs, sex determination, and measurements. Small fish bones found in stomach and scales (likely from sardine) in buccal area. Specimen estimated to be 1–2 years old. Displayed at Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park (as was #632) in acrylic tank (2m × 1m × 55cm), preserved in formalin, from 13 September 2014. Marine park closed in late September 2021; both specimens transferred to Kannonzaki Nature Museum under curatorial director Kazuhiko Yamada (formerly a keeper at Keikyu Aburatsubo), where displayed from 9 November.[170]
Reported and photographed as found by M. Baba of Joetsu Aquarium Museum.[102] Frozen on day of discovery and transferred to National Museum of Nature and Science facility in Tsukuba; thawed in September 2018 and dissected day later by Tsunemi Kubodera and team of 15 researchers from various medical fields assembled by Mitsunaga Narushima, head of Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Mie University.[111] Internal organs removed; focus areas for researchers included nervous system, eyes, and blood.[111]Ovaries and fallopian tubes found to be greatly enlarged; likely to have spawned in 2014 if had survived.[111] Dissection organised by filmmaker Shinichi Motoki for his documentary about Kubodera's work on giant squid; planned for April–May 2019 release.[171]
On public display. Found by fisherman and reported by T. Fujita of Shimane AQUAS Aquarium, where specimen has been on display since 18 March 2015, preserved in formalin.
Became entangled in fixed net around 5:30am. Landed at 7:20am at Nanao City Local Public Wholesale Market as apparently first giant squid in its 28-year history.[172] Bought by supermarket operator Yamanari Shoji Co. and taken in Styrofoam box to Dontaku Southwest Store in Shinbohon, Kanazawa, where displayed on ice between 18 and 19 April. Identification confirmed by Shinichiro Ikeguchi, assistant director of Notojima Aquarium, based on size and fin shape; extracted beak to be displayed there.
Caught around 4:30am by fishermen including deputy helmsman Isamu Mukai and landed in Togi fishing port. Still alive, specimen was transported in container to Notojima Aquarium in Nanao, but died 3 hours after capture. During transport, specimen was observed opening and closing its eyes and hyponome and clinging to container with its suckers; video footage of live animal recorded. Measured at aquarium and displayed there between 3 and 5 May (Golden Week); also dissected there. Reported by S. Ikeguchi of Notojima Aquarium.
Found by fisherman Michael Belvin when returning from fishing trip with friends. Identification confirmed by Houston Zoo aquarium supervisor Mike Concannon. Belvin speculated it might have been attacked by a mako shark, based on bite marks.
On public display. Examined at Echizen Matsushima Aquarium and exhibited there from 27 March 2015, preserved in formalin. Photographed laid out on tarpaulin by Seiji Sasai.
Caught around 6am by 20-ton Jukbyeon fishing vessel. Sold at auction for 80,000 won (equivalent to US$76 in 2023). Purchased by Lee Jun-ho of Jukbyeon's Wangdolhoe Center to be served to customers as fried food (flesh considered too thick for sashimi).
On public display. Died during retrieval. Stored frozen at Kyoto Aquarium where on public display 24–25 December 2014; subsequently sent to research facility. Specially dried by seafood processing company Gogyofuku Co. over 8 days beginning on 16 July 2015 (this process takes half a day for a squid of normal size); shrunk considerably during processing. Displayed at Suma Aqualife Park in Kobe from 30 July to 8 November 2015, and in Kyoto Aquarium from 20 April 2016.
Squid moved limbs only slightly when found. Further details not recorded as specimen was returned to sea before Echizen Matsushima Aquarium were notified of find.[173]
The following images relate to 21st century giant squid specimens and sightings. The number below each image corresponds to that given in the List of giant squid table and is linked to the relevant record therein. The date on which the specimen was first documented is also given (the little-endian day/month/year date format is used throughout).
#487 (15/3/2004) "Archie" preserved in a 9.45m-long acrylic tank at London's Natural History Museum
#487 (15/3/2004) Same specimen as it appeared in 2015, with provenance information displayed on the side of the tank
#487 (15/3/2004) Additional limb remains from the "Archie" specimen, stored in a separate vessel filled with 10% formol-saline, on display as part of the NHM's Spirit Collection Tour (see also specimen label)
#492 (30/9/2004) Paper detailing the first observations of a live giant squid in its natural deep-water habitat, exhibited as part of the "Animals: Art, Science & Sound" exhibition (21 April – 28 August 2023) at the British Library in London. The year of the observations is incorrectly given as 2005 (the year of their publication).
(?/7/2005) Same specimen on display at the NMNH's Sant Ocean Hall, preserved in Novec 7100 fluid.[176] Both of the museum's exhibited giant squid originated from CEPESMA (which managed Museo del Calamar Gigante in Luarca, Asturias) and were prepared by the ECOBIOMAR group of CSIC's Instituto de Investigacións Mariñas in Vigo, Galicia.
Another CEPESMA specimen exhibited at Aula del Mar in September 2009; at the time it had the world's largest collection of giant squid on public display
#554 (30/5/2013) Dead specimen seen from an operating seismic vessel off Brazil
#555 (14/6/2013) "Specimen A", one of two juvenile giant squid caught off Hamada, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, on 14 June 2013. Preserved in 70% ethanol at Shimane Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center.
#556 (14/6/2013) "Specimen B", the second of the two juvenile giant squid collected in the same purse seine net on 14 June 2013, likewise preserved in 70% ethanol at Shimane Prefectural Fisheries Technology Center
#596 (24/11/2014) Specimen caught alive at the surface on 24 November 2014 off Wakasa, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. On display at Echizen Matsushima Aquarium, preserved in formalin.
#596 (24/11/2014) Anterior view of the same specimen, showing well preserved arms and tentacles
#598 (27/11/2014) Dried giant squid originally measuring 6.3m in length
Steve O'Shea (right) and Clyde Roper (centre) preserving a large giant squid in 10% formalin solution on 20 February 1999, during the third and final Smithsonian-backed giant squid expedition
↑ The very first footage of a live giant squid in its natural habitat was a black-and-white video (#548) recorded about a week earlier during the same expedition.[1]
1 2 In the summer of 1965, marine biologist Frederick Aldrich had enquired about using the recently commissioned manned deep-ocean research submersible DSV Alvin to study the life habits of the giant squid (he included a photo of #169 with his letter), but the idea never progressed due to funding issues. The original proposal for Aluminaut, another manned submersible launched around the same time as Alvin, also mentioned the giant squid, but this project was never realised either.[19] In a 1974 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Aldrich said: "I've got to get me a live giant [...] We will use lights, chopped-up shark as bait in a basket, a big jig. Divers will walk the beast into the boat."[20]Jon Lien—once a member of Aldrich's "squid squad"—wrote: "I'm not sure how successful the jigger would have been in landing the squid; it worked quite well in recruiting assistant professors."[21] Even earlier, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke had explored the idea of catching and filming a live giant squid in the short story "Big Game Hunt" and the novel The Deep Range, both published in 1957.[22]
↑ An early example were the giant squid expeditions of 1997 and 1999, the progress of which could be tracked through online expedition journals that provided daily updates, many of them written by expedition leader and giant squid expert Clyde Roper.[5] Also of note were the online contributions of marine biologist and giant squid expert Steve O'Shea, particularly in the first decade of the 21st century. During this time O'Shea was active on TONMO (The Octopus News Magazine Online), a website and forum for cephalopod enthusiasts,[6] on which he often discussed and provided first-hand information on new giant squid finds.[7] O'Shea put considerable effort into lowering the maximum size of the giant squid as reported in the media, especially the oft-quoted total length of 18m (59ft), which he countered with a more realistic 13m (43ft) based on the many specimens he had personally examined.[8]
↑ Giant squid expert Clyde Roper once tried a piece sautéed in olive oil and garlic, describing it as "absolutely awful [...] very, very bitter".[13]
↑ Expedition leader Clyde Roper learned from Azorean former sperm whalers—who had practiced open-boat whaling into the latter half of the 20th century—that they would often see their quarry regurgitating giant squid after being harpooned.[35]
↑ A permanent exhibition of nearly identical name, "In Search of Giant Squids", opened at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History on 27 May 1994. Curated by Clyde Roper, it included a "bioluminescent giant squid, able to flash blue-green light".[36]
↑ Beast author Peter Benchley was originally meant to chronicle the first Kaikoura expedition but had to withdraw "at the last minute" due to back problems.[38]
↑ Though see specimen #323 from Tottori Prefecture, Japan, which was reportedly still alive when found stranded in shallow water on 16 April 1988, where it was photographed in situ.[50]
↑ A number of photographs of live adult giant squid at the surface off Okinawa came to light in 2003 (#472 and 473),[52] but it is uncertain when these were taken.[53] Another live animal was photographed at the surface in the same area on 15 April 2004 (#488).[54]
1 2 3 Though Kubodera et al. on 4 December 2006 (#508) and Kubodera, O'Shea, Widder et al. in July 2012 (#548 and 549) are widely recognised as the first to, respectively, film a live adult giant squid (at the surface) and the first to film a live (adult) giant squid in its natural habitat, there exists at least one competing claim to both of these milestones. In November 2006, American explorer and diver Scott Cassell led an expedition to the Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez) with the aim of filming a giant squid in its natural habitat. The team employed a novel filming method: using a Humboldt squid (Dosidicus gigas) carrying a specially designed camera clipped to its fin. The camera-bearing squid caught on film what was claimed to be a very large giant squid engaging in predatory behaviour; its total length was variously estimated at 108ft (33m),[71] 30–120ft (9.1–36.6m),[72] and 40ft (12m).[73] The footage was broadcast a year later on the History Channel, on the MonsterQuest episode "Giant Squid Found",[71] and in the follow-up episode "Giant Squid Ambush" in 2008.[72] Cassell subsequently distanced himself from this documentary, claiming that it contained multiple factual and scientific errors.[74]
↑ Ph.D. student Wen-Sung Chung, who was reviewing the "Medusa" footage while Widder was on a submersible dive, was the first to view the recording and therefore the first person to see video of a live giant squid in its natural habitat.[92] The footage was first seen by Chung and the rest of the team on 3 July,[93] having been recorded two days earlier.[91]
↑ All of the specimens kept alive in tanks were rather small individuals and survived for only a few hours at most. The idea of keeping a fully grown giant squid in captivity—long term—has been mooted on occasion but is considered exceedingly challenging and has never been attempted.[103]
↑ The Diving Almanac & Book of Records of 2016, for example, recognises specimen #637 as the first to be filmed by a diver, though with the incorrect date of 24 January 2015 instead of 24 December 2015.[106] The same source also considers this specimen (with the correct date) to be the "[l]argest squid observed on a dive"[107] (but see #618).
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Taningia danae, the Dana octopus squid, is a species of squid in the family Octopoteuthidae. It is one of the largest known squid species, reaching a mantle length of 1.7 m (5.6 ft) and total length of 2.3 m (7.5 ft). The largest known specimen, a mature female, weighed 161.4 kg (356 lb).[nb a]
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Cherel, Y. & G. Duhamel (2004). Antarctic jaws: cephalopod prey of sharks in Kerguelen waters. Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers51(1): 17–31. doi:10.1016/j.dsr.2003.09.009
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Specimen exhibited at CEPESMA's Aula del Mar ("Classroom of the Sea") in Luarca, Asturias, Spain, in September 2009, prior to the opening of the organisation's dedicated museum, Museo del Calamar Gigante, the following year
Another CEPESMA specimen exhibited at Aula del Mar in September 2009; at the time it had the world's largest collection of giant squid on public display
A third specimen at Aula del Mar, September 2009
A fourth specimen at Aula del Mar, September 2009
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Giant squid display at Kelly Tarlton's Underwater World in Auckland, New Zealand
