Scientists have defrosted a colossal squid in a bid to unlock the mysteries around this rarely seen monster of the deep.
The creature is one of the ocean's most elusive species and this specimen is the length of a minibus.
Weighing in at 350kgs (770lbs), it is so big that a forklift truck had to be used to get it to the examination tank.
It was hauled up by fishermen from a mile below the surface of Antarctica's remote Ross Sea, and had been frozen for eight months until experts in New Zealand got the opportunity to thaw out the animal and inspect it this week.
The squid is a female, and its eight arms are each well over a metre (3.3ft) long.
It is estimated its two tentacles would have been about double that length, if they had not been damaged.
Kat Bolstad, a squid scientist from Auckland University of Technology who is leading the team examining the creature, described it as "very big, very beautiful".
She said: "This is essentially an intact specimen, which is almost an unparalleled opportunity for us to examine.
"This is a spectacular opportunity."
Footage of the autopsy, streamed online, was watched by around 142,000 people from 180 countries.
While colossal squid are the stuff of seafaring legend, they have rarely been seen in the flesh.
The squid is the second caught by Captain John Bennett and his crew.
Their first was hauled in seven years ago and is now on display in New Zealand's national museum.
Mr Bennett said given the excitement around his previous catch, he thought he should save the latest one for research.
He said: "It was partly alive, it was still hanging onto the fish.
"Just a big bulk in the water. They're huge, and the mantle's all filled with water. It's quite an awesome sight."
Susan Waugh, a senior curator at the museum, said scientists hope to find out more about the species, including where it fits in the food chain, the extent of genetic variation between different squid types, and basic facts about how the animal lives and dies.
Scientists will assess the condition of the squid before deciding whether to preserve it for public display.
Dr Bolstad said it is possible ancient sightings of the species gave rise to tales of the legendary kraken sea monster.
She said sperm whales often eat colossal squid and are known to play with their food.
Sailors may have mistaken this behaviour for epic battles at sea.
But she joked: "On the other hand, we don't really know what the grog rations were like at that time at sea, either.
"So it may be that we've got a bit of a fisherman's story going on there, too."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Colossal Squid Tests Could Reveal 'Kraken' Clues
Dengan url
http://majutakgentarian.blogspot.com/2014/09/colossal-squid-tests-could-reveal.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Colossal Squid Tests Could Reveal 'Kraken' Clues
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Colossal Squid Tests Could Reveal 'Kraken' Clues
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar