Giant Squid

First Ever Footage: Marine scientists have captured the first-ever video of a colossal squid swimming freely in its natural habitat, nearly a century after its identification. A juvenile colossal squid was filmed in the deep sea, marking a significant event.

Sighting Details: The footage, announced on April 16, 2025, by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, shows a young squid, about 1 foot (30 centimeters) long, at a depth of 1,968 feet (600 meters) in the South Atlantic Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands.

Verification: Researchers waited to verify the species identification with independent scientists before releasing the footage

Physical Characteristics:

• Adults can reach up to 7 meters (23 feet) and weigh as much as 500 kilograms.
• Young colossal squids are almost entirely transparent.
• Adults change to opaque dark red or purple.
• They have the largest eyes of any known animal and sharp, swiveling hooks on their tentacles.

Significance of the Discovery: The sighting provides valuable insights into the elusive colossal squid’s life cycle and behavior in its natural environment. This is especially significant because researchers are now testing different cameras, hoping to catch an adult colossal squid.

Conservation Status: The colossal squid is currently classified as Least Concern under the IUCN Red List.