A rarely seen deep-sea squid has made an appearance in California waters, giving researchers a glimpse of an animal that remains largely mysterious despite decades of ocean exploration.
Researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and collaborators from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) encountered a bigfin squid, Magnapinna sp., while exploring the abyssal seafloor near Davidson Seamount off Central California. The squid was recorded by MBARI’s remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts at approximately 10,751 feet, or more than two miles, beneath the ocean surface.
According to MBARI, the encounter marked the first confirmed live observation of a bigfin squid in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Only about 70 individuals have been observed or collected worldwide, making sightings particularly unusual. MBARI had encountered a bigfin squid only once previously during roughly four decades of deep-sea exploration, off Oahu, Hawaii, in 2001.
Researchers estimated the recently observed squid measured approximately 4.1 feet from the top of its body to the ends of its arms. Bigfin squid are known for their distinctive fins and extraordinarily long, slender arm and tentacle filaments. Some individuals can reach a total length of approximately 21 feet.
Much about the species remains unknown, including its diet. Bigfin squid have been documented at depths ranging from roughly 5,200 to more than 20,000 feet, placing them well beyond the environments most people ever have an opportunity to see firsthand.
The California encounter provides researchers with another rare look at the species in its natural habitat and serves as a reminder of how much remains to be discovered in the deep Pacific.
More information and video from the encounter are available from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.
