For the first time since the species was identified nearly a century ago, a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) has been filmed alive in its natural habitat. The groundbreaking footage was captured by a team of researchers exploring the South Atlantic Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands. The squid, believed to be a juvenile measuring approximately 30 centimetres in length, was spotted at a depth of 600 metres below the surface.
Colossal squids are among the most enigmatic and elusive creatures of the deep sea. Unlike their close relative, the giant squid, which has occasionally been observed and even stranded on shores, sightings of the colossal squid have been virtually non-existent. Scientists believe that adult specimens can grow up to 7 metres long and weigh as much as 500 kilograms, making them the heaviest invertebrates on Earth.
The footage was taken during a 35-day research expedition in March, led by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Aboard the research vessel Falkor, scientists employed a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to scan the depths for deep-sea life. It was during one of these dives that the ROV’s cameras captured the rarely seen squid in motion.
Dr Michelle Taylor, chief scientist from the University of Essex who led the expedition, shared her excitement about the discovery. She admitted that the team wasn’t immediately certain about what they had found. However, intrigued by the creature’s striking appearance, they chose to continue recording. “It was beautiful and unusual,” she said.
This sighting is not only a scientific milestone but also a significant step in understanding deep-sea biodiversity. The colossal squid inhabits some of the most remote and least explored regions of the ocean, often below depths that are challenging to access with standard research equipment. Most of what is known about the species comes from carcasses found in the stomachs of sperm whales or caught in deep-sea fishing lines, making live observations exceptionally rare.
Capturing such footage in its natural environment provides researchers with invaluable insights into the creature’s behaviour, physiology, and habitat. Observing a young squid in motion offers a glimpse into its development stages and may help scientists learn more about how it survives in the extreme conditions of the deep ocean.
Dr Taylor emphasised the importance of continued exploration of the ocean’s depths. “There is still so much we do not know about life in our oceans,” she stated. “Encounters like this remind us of the mysteries that remain to be uncovered and the importance of advancing our technology to study them.”
The team hopes that this discovery will inspire further scientific missions to explore uncharted marine environments and deepen our understanding of the planet’s most elusive species. As deep-sea technology evolves, the opportunity to observe such rare creatures in their natural habitat becomes increasingly feasible, opening the door to discoveries that were once thought impossible.
