Giant Squid Captured, Filmed for First Time

[gonetobaja]

This is an interesting link on the info of the Humboldt Squid. Although it is not the true GIANT SQUID, it is in the same family. The info on this page is compiled through years of diving with the animals and is opinion from observation.

We do not claim to be experts, however we do have many hours in the water with them. This info is provided to the people that go to school and study marine life.

http://www.sea-wolves.com/squidfacts2.html

As I stated, this is for research info only and is only what my partner Scott Cassell has put together. If you are looking for "in water" squid research info,.......here it is....

[aquabubble:)]

Wow!! Great pictures!!

[everlast]

I really think this is like a double edged sword. Although I think it is great that we have finally been able to capture this colossal creature and film it on video, I hope it doesn't lead to a mass overexploitation that could become harmful to these animals. If they aren't as rare as we thought, isn't it likely that fisheries could start to pursue them for their meat? Especially in countries such as Japan and Korea. Hopefully we can avoid that and be able to study them in their natural environment so that we can learn and protect at the same time.

[Leviathan]

How many species of giant deep sea squid do you think there are? Could there be any species of giant deep sea octopus?

[Dr. James B. Wood]

Dale Pearson

Great images - I can't wait to see the video!!! Wow! Amazing stuff! Please post when the video is released.

As for the attacks, I assumed that crazy photographers (myself included) set things up to get the shot - that is their job. In the case of your large and very powerful squid, I imagine setting up the shot would include chumming the water to attract the animals and provoke the dramatic predatory behavior that the public find most interesting. Fair enough, I do this sort of thing too. Cephalopods are fast predators but the animals aren't like this all of the time or even most of the time - at least the cephalopods I've work with which admittedly does not include Humbolt Squid – and that is the part of the story that is often left out leaving people terrified of squid, sharks, etc.

Yes, they are dangerous but professional experts like yourself are setting up the situation to show those exciting predatory behaviors. As a conservationist, I try to tell people that part of the story as well so they don’t run off and kill the oceans remaining large predators.


James
Cephalopod Biologist
Part time uw stock photographer