Haunting Encounter With Rare Bigfin Squid Caught 2 Miles Under The Waves
Magical.
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Scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have documented a remarkable sighting of a Magnapinna squid, commonly known as a bigfin squid, in the deep waters off Central California. The creature was discovered on August 7th at a depth of approximately 3,277 meters (10,751 feet) near Davidson Seamount using a remotely operated research vehicle. This marks the first confirmed observation of the species in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean region.
The bigfin squid represents one of the ocean’s most mysterious inhabitants, with fewer than 70 specimens ever recorded worldwide. The creature’s distinctive features include an unusually small body paired with enormous fins on either side, along with eight arms and two tentacles that extend remarkably thin and long filaments. During the sighting, the squid measured approximately 1.25 meters and displayed its characteristic “elbow” pose, bending its appendages at sharp angles while hovering above the seafloor—a behavior whose purpose remains unknown to researchers.
Despite their elusive nature, bigfin squid appear distributed across multiple ocean basins, including the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. However, fundamental aspects of their biology remain poorly understood, including their diet, reproduction methods, and actual population numbers. Researchers theorize the squid may use its extended appendages to passively capture prey from the seafloor, though this behavior has yet to be confirmed through direct observation.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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