In brief
The Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (Too) captured rare footage of Gonatus antarcticus, an elusive squid species, during an expedition in the Southern Ocean. This sighting marks the first time the squid has been seen alive, as previously it was only known from remains found in nets or seabirds.
Researchers aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's R/V Falkor (Too) have made an exciting discovery in the deep waters of the Southern Ocean: a rare Antarctic squid, scientifically known as Gonatus antarcticus, has been seen alive for the very first time. This remarkable sighting took place on Christmas Day 2024 when the team was using their remotely operated vehicle, SuBastian. Alterations in ice movement forced the team's exploration to the outer edges of the Powell Basin, leading to this unexpected encounter. As they deployed the submersible to depths of 7,000 feet, a shadow appeared on the live feed. Upon closer inspection, the crew realized they were observing a three-foot-long squid, which was documented as it emitted a green cloud of ink. "It was a beautiful squid," remarked Andrew Thurber, a deep-sea researcher from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and part of the expedition crew. He described the deep ocean as a source of consistent beauty, with this discovery standing out as an extraordinary representation of that allure.Previous to this momentous event, the Antarctic gonate squid had only been captured in fishing nets or discovered within the stomachs of seabirds, leaving its living form a mystery. The video footage acquired during the expedition allows for further exploration into its behavior and habitat at significant ocean depths. Linsey Sala, a museum scientist managing the pelagic invertebrate collection at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, reflected on the potential impact of such discoveries. She noted that recordings like these significantly enhance understanding of deep-sea life and may help identify similar unidentified specimens preserved in global collections.This historic observation highlights the importance of deep-sea exploration in uncovering the mysteries of our oceans and the diversity of life they harbor.
