In brief
The first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, was made when a juvenile squid was spotted near the South Sandwich Islands, contributing to 100 years of scientific interest in this elusive species.
In March 2025, marine biologist Dr. Kathrin S.R. Bolstad returned from an Antarctic expedition equipped with a cutting-edge camera system designed to locate the elusive colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni. Although she did not see a squid during her deployment, her efforts coincided with an exciting discovery made by a dive team from the Schmidt Ocean Institute, who captured footage of a juvenile colossal squid measuring approximately 30 centimeters, or just under a foot, in length.The sighting took place off the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean on March 9. The juvenile squid exhibited a transparent body adorned with delicate arms and distinctive brown spots, characteristics typical of this rarely observed species. “Pretty much as soon as I saw the footage, I knew there was a good chance,” stated Dr. Bolstad, who consults for the Schmidt Ocean Institute from her base at Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.This event marks a historic breakthrough, as it represents the first confirmed live observation of colossal squid in its natural deep-sea habitat since the species was first described over a century ago. In its adult state, the colossal squid is known to reach impressive sizes of up to 23 feet, dwarfing its distant cousin, the giant squid, and asserting its place as the largest invertebrate on the planet. The successful identification of this juvenile offers promising prospects for the understanding and conservation of such a mysterious marine inhabitant.
