Yo - What's Crackin', Kraken?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc....ap/index.html

Quote:

• Colossal squid could make calamari rings size of tractor tires
• Squid could be 330 pounds heavier than previous biggest catch
• Fishermen were after Chilean sea bass when they caught squid eating one
• Specimen to be preserved in New Zealand national museum

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A fishing crew has caught a colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton and prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed, a fisheries official said Thursday.

If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, one expert said.

The squid, weighing an estimated 990 pounds and about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.

The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have not been made. The date when the colossus was caught also was not disclosed.

Colossal squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.

If original estimates are correct, the squid would be 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen ever found.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," said Dr. Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology.

Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are extremely active, aggressive hunters, he said.

The frozen squid will be transported to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be preserved for scientific study.

Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," Anderton said.

Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found round the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet long, but are not as heavy as colossal squid.

Click the link to see pictures of it. That thing is ginormous.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Welcome... to the squid zone. Didn't know they lived in Antarctic water, must be pretty cold :|

There's nowhere I can't reach.

This seems to be one of those cases where pictures can't do it justice.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It's pretty scary that such epic-sized squids have been found. It kind of makes you think what other crazy creatures are like in our oceans!

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

That is amazing. It's huge!!!!!! I'd hate to come face to face with one of them, it'd scare me witless, though i doubt i'd ever manage getting that deep in the ocean lol. Looks scarey lol.
I'm shocked they've found something else. Wasn't that long ago they found that giant squid was it? Makes you think about what else could possibly be down there.

Seems this is the year for discovering sea creatures. What else do you think is next?

I was speaking idiomatically.

Oddly enough, I'm not really surprised. The squid is definitely colossal, but considering the bizarre sea life that has been found in previously uncharted waters, it was somewhat expected.

Still, tractor tire-sized calamari rings sounds like an awesome menu item.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You know, there's been a surge of these 'giant squid sightings/catchings' in the last few years. It's just kind of odd. And calamari is soooooooo wonderful...makes me want some right now. Except it's not easily available here.

FELIPE NO

This just proves that we still have a lot of ground to cover before we can really call ourselves masters of this world. Alien lifeforms? Try searching the deeps before you go into outer space. You're bound to find more in the ocean than you ever will in the great sea of stars.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Quote:

If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, one expert said.

Yum.

I saw a very similar story on the news the other day, something about a humongous squid. Not sure if it was the same one as that one; they showed a video of it swimming around (at night) and it was emitting a bright green aura i.e. it was glowing green. Creepy stuff.

Most amazing jew boots

Wanted for questioning.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

So its Colossal Squid now? I guess giant just didn't make the cut eh?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Yggdrasil

So its Colossal Squid now? I guess giant just didn't make the cut eh?

Well, according to the article, colossal squid and giant squid are two different animals, with colossal squid being the larger and heavier of the two. I didn't know that, either.

This kind of stuff is always interesting to read, but it creeps me out at the same time. Only a matter of time before we find even stranger things in the oceans.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

What I keep noticing about those threads about proud scientists and sailors harpooning sea animals for humanity's glory, is the total lack of compassion for said animals.

o well ~ I guess.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I like the ocean. It's a place with strange things, and it goes to show that the world, has stuff our fantasies are made of.

Kinda reminds me that the world is an interesting place to live in.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by niki

What I keep noticing about those threads about proud scientists and sailors harpooning sea animals for humanity's glory, is the total lack of compassion for said animals.

o well ~ I guess.

You say that like animals have feelings.

FELIPE NO

I'm with Niki on this one. We're of the mind that we should kill it first and ask questions later. It's a real shame.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by niki

What I keep noticing about those threads about proud scientists and sailors harpooning sea animals for humanity's glory, is the total lack of compassion for said animals.

o well ~ I guess.

You must realize sir these are terrible monsters of the seas, rising from the abyss to take sailors down the depths never to return. There is no other way to deal with these abominations.

Jam it back in, in the dark.