Researchers catch giant squid alive

[ZeoBandit]

Researchers catch giant squid
POSTED: 9:07 a.m. EST, December 22, 2006



Story Highlights
• Team films live giant squid for first time
• Researchers say species not endangered
• Longest giant squid on record is 60 feet
• Whales, large sharks feed on giant squid

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- A Japanese research team has succeeded in filming a giant squid live -- possibly for the first time -- and says the elusive creatures may be more plentiful than previously believed, a researcher said Friday.

The research team, led by Tsunemi Kubodera, videotaped the giant squid at the surface as they captured it off the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo earlier this month. The squid, which measured about 24-feet long, died while it was being caught.

"We believe this is the first time anyone has successfully filmed a giant squid that was alive," said Kubodera, a researcher with Japan's National Science Museum. "Now that we know where to find them, we think we can be more successful at studying them in the future."

Giant squid, formally called Architeuthis, are the world's largest invertebrates. Because they live in the depths of the ocean, they have long been wrapped in mystery and embellished in the folklore of sea monsters, appearing in ancient Greek myths or attacking the submarine in Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

The captured squid was caught using a smaller type of squid as bait, and was pulled into a research vessel "after putting up quite a fight," Kubodera said.

"It took two people to pull it in, and they lost it once, which might have caused the injuries that killed it," he said.

The squid, a female, was not fully grown and was relatively small by giant squid standards. The longest one on record is 60 feet, he said.

Kubodera and his team had been conducting expeditions in the area for about three years before they succeeded in making their first contact two years ago. Last year, the team succeeded in taking a series of still photos of one of the animals in its natural habitat -- also believed to have been a first.

Until the team's successes, most scientific study of the creatures had to rely on partial specimens that had washed ashore dead or dying or had been found in the digestive systems of whales or very large sharks.

Kubodera said whales led his team to the squid. By finding an area where whales fed, he believed he could find the animals. He also said that, judging by the number of whales that feed on them, there may be many more giant squid than previously thought.

"Sperm whales need from 500 to 1,000 kilograms (1,100-2,200 pounds) of food every day," he said. "There are believed to be 200,000 or so of them, and that would suggest there are quite a few squid for them to be feeding on. I don't think they are in danger of extinction at all."

[chefcraig]

I hate calamari. It always tastes like rubberbands.

[sisca]

i love calamari...cut that fucker up and fry it!

[ZeoBandit]

Where's chef?

[ziggysmalls]

Do you think when they brought that squid up, somebody said "I bet this is what Rosie smells like"

[chefcraig]

Do you think when they brought that squid up, somebody said "I bet this is what Rosie smells like"

No. More like what God said after Eve went swimming the first time: "Now I'll never get that smell out of the fish."

[FORD]

I hate calamari. It always tastes like rubberbands.

And you call yourself a chef??

All depends on how it's cooked. I don't pretend to know the secret myself, but I know this Greek drive in up in Tacoma that makes deep fried calamari that's just perfect. It's never been chewy. On the other hand, Korean restaurants around here are a crap shoot. Some get it right, others don't, and sometimes it's a matter of who's cooking. I gave up on that and now stick with the bulgogi at the Korean places and depend on the Greeks for squid.

[KRAMER5150]

nasty,i cant believe you guys eat that thing

[chefcraig]

And you call yourself a chef??

All depends on how it's cooked. I don't pretend to know the secret myself, but I know this Greek drive in up in Tacoma that makes deep fried calamari that's just perfect. It's never been chewy. On the other hand, Korean restaurants around here are a crap shoot. Some get it right, others don't, and sometimes it's a matter of who's cooking. I gave up on that and now stick with the bulgogi at the Korean places and depend on the Greeks for squid.

Knowing how to prepare stuff and then actually enjoying it are two very different things.

Dining in general in South Florida itself is indeed a "crap-shoot", accent on the crap. If you enjoy deep-fried rubberbands, then good for you. You'll find literally dozens of places here available to fill that urge.

Personally, I'll pass and you are welcome to eat my share.

[HuBBs5150]

Stop by morimoto's and try the calamri salad next time you're in philly. Its to die for.

[MEANBEE]

got a place here in omaha called brother sebastians the calmari is excellent.

[hatchetforce]

The best I ever had was at Scoma's at Fisherman's Wharf

[Pabs]

I hate calamari. It always tastes like rubberbands.

Well shit, then you're not getting good ones!

Wildfire has some good calamari.

[twonabomber]

all the Italian joints here have the best calamari.

[onefootoutthedoor]

The best I ever had was at Scoma's at Fisherman's Wharf

Scoma's is one of the best on the wharf.