CANBERRA (Reuters) - One of the largest giant squid ever found has washed up on a remote Australian beach, sparking a race against time by scientists to examine the rarely seen deep-ocean creature.
The squid, the mantle or main body of which measured two-meters (6.5 feet) long, was found by a walker late on Tuesday on Ocean Beach, near Strahan, on the western coast of island state Tasmania.
"It's a whopper," Tasmanian Museum senior curator Genefor Walker-Smith told local media on Wednesday. "The main mantle is about one meter across and its total length is about eight meters."
Scientists would take samples from the creature, identified by state parks officials as an Architeuthis, which can grow to more than 10 meters (33 feet) in length and weigh more than 275 kilograms (606 pounds). The Tasmanian animal was 250 kg, Pemberton said.
The tentacles had been badly damaged, so the overall length of the animal could not be determined, a Tasmania Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman said. Park rangers had moved the remains from the water.
Giant squid, once believed to be mythical despite occasional sightings by mariners, feed on fish and other squid. Last year, fishermen off the Falkland Islands caught a complete animal measuring 8.62 meters.
Scientists believe giant squid usually live at ocean depths of between 200-700 meters (660-2,300 ft), relying in part on volleyball-sized eyes, the largest in the animal kingdom.
Scientists said giant squid gathered along Australia's continental shelf in cold mid-winter waters to feed on Grenadier fish. The squid were in turn hunted by sperm whales migrating north from the Southern Ocean.
Japanese ocean researchers captured the first ever pictures of a live giant squid in September 2004 off Japan's Ogasawara Islands at a depth of 900 meters.
07-11-2007, 17:21
Csargo
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
They're coming...
07-11-2007, 18:01
Rodion Romanovich
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
...to eat us all!
07-11-2007, 18:07
Fragony
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
....screaming
07-11-2007, 21:51
Louis VI the Fat
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
I told you so. :no:
*Heads for the hills*
07-11-2007, 21:55
Bijo
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
They must be adequately edible.
07-11-2007, 22:03
Stig
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
Didn't some fishermen once catch one?
07-11-2007, 22:13
Big King Sanctaphrax
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
The walker who found it must have been ******* himself.
07-11-2007, 22:19
Caius
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
All hail the octosquids!
(if you want to live)
07-11-2007, 22:45
Gregoshi
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
<the trailer opens with black screen and a deep voiced announcer as the red lettered movie title slowly appears>
Witness the terror of...Rare, Giant, DEAD Squids from Outer Space!
Bend over, put your head between your knees and kiss your planet good bye!
<cut to scene of two young lovers walking on a secluded tropical beach>
Woman: I love you darling.
Man: I lo-, hey, what is that?
Woman: Oh dear, is that a beached whale?
Man: No, I don't think so. <squints at thing> Run darling! Run! Quickly, before it washes further up on shore!
Woman: But what is it!?
Man: It's a Rare, Giant, DEAD squid from outer space! Now go quickly! I'll try to distract it until it decomposes some more.
Woman: I can't leave you!
Man: You must! You must go to the sheriff's office and have them round up a sanitation crew immediately! I'll be alright, and...I love you.
<scene fades to a close up of a Rare, Giant, DEAD squid eye, deep voiced announcer resumes his voice over>
Yes, terror in the theater reaches new heights this summer with Rare, Giant, DEAD Squids from Outer Space. They are rare. They are giant. They are DEAD. They are from outer space...and they are decomposing Friday in the theater near you.
You'll be glad they are only dead...and that it's only a movie.
<fade to black, trailer ends>
07-11-2007, 22:49
Caius
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gregoshi
<the trailer opens with black screen and a deep voiced announcer as the red lettered movie title slowly appears>
Witness the terror of...Rare, Giant, DEAD Squids from Outer Space!
Bend over, put your head between your knees and kiss your planet good bye!
<cut to scene of two young lovers walking on a secluded tropical beach>
Woman: I love you darling.
Man: I lo-, hey, what is that?
Woman: Oh dear, is that a beached whale?
Man: No, I don't think so. <squints at thing> Run darling! Run! Quickly, before it washes further up on shore!
Woman: But what is it!?
Man: It's a Rare, Giant, DEAD squid from outer space! Now go quickly! I'll try to distract it until it decomposes some more.
Woman: I can't leave you!
Man: You must! You must go to the sheriff's office and have them round up a sanitation crew immediately! I'll be alright, and...I love you.
<scene fades to a close up of a Rare, Giant, DEAD squid eye, deep voiced announcer resumes his voice over>
Yes, terror in the theater reaches new heights this summer with Rare, Giant, DEAD Squids from Outer Space. They are rare. They are giant. They are DEAD. They are from outer space...and they are decomposing Friday in the theater near you.
You'll be glad they are only dead...and that it's only a movie.
<fade to black, trailer ends>
LoL!
You are watching too many romantic series, dont you, Gregoshi?
07-11-2007, 22:51
GiantMonkeyMan
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
that reminds me of one of those fake trailers on quinten tarintino's Grindhouse, lol :laugh4:
i'm glad i live in england... we still have time to prepare the Octosquid Killing Machine of Doom (tm) before they adapt to cold climates
07-11-2007, 22:54
Caius
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
Quote:
Originally Posted by GiantMonkeyMan
that reminds me of one of those fake trailers on quinten tarintino's Grindhouse, lol :laugh4:
i'm glad i live in england... we still have time to prepare the Octosquid Killing Machine of Doom (tm) before they adapt to cold climates
GMM! Nice to see you back!
The OctoHunters will make their work..if they dont run away...
07-12-2007, 04:59
Alexander the Pretty Good
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
Gregoshi's batting a thousand. :laugh4:
07-12-2007, 15:45
Seamus Fermanagh
Re: Rare giant squid washed up in Australia
A race against time or against chefs going for the ultimate in calimari?
