Giant Squid Filmed Live for the First Time After a Century of Search

A groundbreaking achievement in deep-sea research has occurred as scientists have successfully captured footage of a giant squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its natural habitat for the first time. This remarkable event took place near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, where a juvenile specimen measuring approximately 30 centimeters was filmed at a depth of 600 meters.

Previously, knowledge about the giant squid was largely derived from remains found in the stomachs of sperm whales or from captured fish. This recent discovery, however, marks a significant milestone for marine biology and expands our understanding of this elusive cephalopod.

The giant squid belongs to the family of glass squids (Cranchiidae) and is recognized as the heaviest invertebrate species on Earth. Adult specimens can grow up to seven meters in length and weigh as much as 500 kilograms, yet their lives have remained largely mysterious.

The historic footage was recorded in early March by an international research team aboard the R/V Falkor (too), a vessel operated by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Utilizing the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian, researchers documented the squid in its natural environment as part of an ocean census expedition aimed at discovering new marine life.

According to Kat Bolstad, a deep-sea expert and associate professor at Auckland University of Technology, watching the first live footage of a juvenile giant squid is exhilarating. It brings to light the fact that these creatures exist largely unaware of human presence. For the past century, encounters with giant squids have primarily involved remnants found in whale stomachs or their role as predators of Antarctic fish.

The newly released video depicts a nearly transparent creature with iridescent eyes and gracefully extended fan-like arms, contrasting sharply with the traditional portrayal of giant squids as deep-sea monsters. Bolstad described the squid as resembling a delicate glass sculpture, a stark contrast to its reputation as a formidable predator.

As these squids mature, they likely lose their transparent appearance, becoming more robust and impressive hunters. Bolstad noted that adult giant squids possess strong arms equipped with sharp hooks, enabling them to prey on fish as large as two meters in length.

The researchers confirmed the identity of the squid in the video based on distinct hooks located in the middle of its eight short arms, which differentiate it from other species in the family, such as the recently observed Galiteuthis glacialis. Just weeks prior, another team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute filmed this species in the Bellingshausen Sea near Antarctica.

This recent sighting occurred during an expedition investigating the seabed after the calving of a massive iceberg from the George VI Ice Shelf. Thanks to high-resolution ROV footage, experts like Bolstad, who were not on board, could reliably identify the species.

With the SuBastian ROV, scientists have now documented at least four different deep-sea squid species, including Spirula spirula in 2020 and Promachoteuthis in 2024. Another potential first sighting is currently pending verification.

Bolstad emphasized the vast importance of the deep sea, which is believed to host hundreds of thousands of undiscovered species and is likely the origin of all life on Earth, accounting for 95% of the planet's available living space. The deep ocean is home to creatures that are more magnificent and bizarre than anything depicted in science fiction.