“Giant squid” is a term that’s sometimes used to describe a range of larger squid specimens, but scientifically, Vecchione said only squids of the genus Architeuthis can be considered giant squid. Vecchione confirmed that he was nearly certain that this was a squid of the genus Architeuthis - a giant squid. The scientists on the ship sent the footage to Michael Vecchione, a NOAA Fisheries zoologist and expert in all things octopus and squid, to see if he could identify the creature. The squid was captured by the Journey into Midnight expedition at a depth of 759 meters (2,490 feet) and looked to be 10 - 12 feet long. “There’s something instinctual about these animals that captures the imagination of everyone - the wonder that there are these huge animals out there on our planet that we know so little about, and that we’ve only caught on camera a couple of times.” “You feel very alive,” he said of the footage, which showed a giant squid in its natural habitat for just the second time in history. So when Nathan Robinson, one of the scientists on a NOAA-funded expedition to the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, saw that first glimpse of a tentacle rise out of the inky black of his computer screen, he was captivated. It’s what every marine scientist hopes for when they journey into the ocean’s depths. Categories: Research Headlines, Ocean Exploration NOAA-Funded Expedition Captures Rare Footage of Giant Squid in the Gulf of Mexico This is the second time a giant squid has been captured on camera in its deepwater habitat By Katie Valentine
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