Giant Squid photographed in wild for first time

herbivore12 · Post by **herbivore12** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:33 am

You can read about it, and see some photos, here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050928/ap_ ... iant_squid

The basics: a Japanese team is the first ever to obtain images of a living adult giant squid, which attacked bait suspended below a remote-operated vehicle. The squid was 26 feet long, and left a 6-meter tentacle behind attached to the vehicle. And whereas many thought the giant squid would be a sluggish, lethargic creature, it turns out to be a fast-moving, active predator. Yikes.

The sea is scary.

LimuHead · Post by **LimuHead** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:41 am

That's cool.

I wonder how good they taste.....

I remember reading somewhere that they smell strongly of ammonia, so they probably don't taste that good.

What a waste....

missy · Post by **missy** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:43 am

LimuHead wrote:
I wonder how good they taste.....

....like chicken (ohhh, that's twice in one day I've used that line!!!)

Jerry Freeman · Post by **Jerry Freeman** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:00 am

I seem to recall that they have a beak like a parrot. They pull their prey in with the tentacles and then devour it with the beak. I also seem to recall that some kind of whale has been found to have a stomach full of these beaks, indicating that specie of whale considers giant squids to be tasty.

Best wishes,
Jerry

Flyingcursor · Post by **Flyingcursor** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:15 am

I read about this earlier. It's great they finally got pictures of a live one.

djm · Post by **djm** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:28 am

Squid are truly violent predators. The larger ones regularly attack divers who get too close to a swarm. Once the swarm gets into a frenzy they will even attack each other. Its no surprise that the larger ones are at least as ferocious. Sperm whales dive deep to feast on squid. I'm not sure how they could ever generate much blubber on squid, as they take forever to eat. Eating squid is more of a chewing exercise than eating.

djm

Darwin · Post by **Darwin** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:40 am

djm wrote:Eating squid is more of a chewing exercise than eating.

You have to swallow them whole.

I seem to recall that squid sashimi is a lot squishier than octopus. For some reason, I seem to have repressed the rest of my experience along those lines.

MarkB · Post by **MarkB** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:41 am

HAILING CAPTAIN NEMO!

MarkB

jsluder · Post by **jsluder** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:50 am

Jerry Freeman wrote:I also seem to recall that some kind of whale has been found to have a stomach full of these beaks, indicating that specie of whale considers giant squids to be tasty.

Sperm whales, I believe.

Here's a good book on the subject: The Search for the Giant Squid : The Biology and Mythology of the World's Most Elusive Sea Creature , by Richard Ellis.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 11:55 am

Darwin wrote:
djm wrote:Eating squid is more of a chewing exercise than eating.
You have to swallow them whole.

I seem to recall that squid sashimi is a lot squishier than octopus. For some reason, I seem to have repressed the rest of my experience along those lines.

I have to say my experience with squid sashimi was different. I found mine --and it was the only time I had it-- to be actually kinda crunchy, sort of like a soft bell pepper might be: juicy and a bit resistant at the same time. Not at all chewy like octopus, which I can take or leave. Mostly it's leave.

It was only a matter of time until one of those squidzillas was photographed. Very cool. I wouldn't want to meet one unprotected. I'll bet I'm just the size for a snack.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:15 pm

LimuHead wrote:That's cool.

I wonder how good they taste.....

I remember reading somewhere that they smell strongly of ammonia, so they probably don't taste that good.

What a waste....

Mmmmmmm... mega calamari!

I think that ammonia smell was on ones that had sat decomposing on a beach. I'd imagine that fresh giant squid would be quite edible.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:30 pm

Some deep-ranging sea creatures, including Greenland sharks, have urea-impregnated flesh, which smells and tastes of ammonia and makes them inedible to humans. I'm not sure, but I believe that the urea serves as a sort of antifreeze.

herbivore12 · Post by **herbivore12** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:54 pm

brewerpaul wrote: I think that ammonia smell was on ones that had sat decomposing on a beach. I'd imagine that fresh giant squid would be quite edible.

According to researchers:

"Unlike the flesh of its smaller, edible squid cousins, Architeuthis's is saturated with ammonium chloride, which causes it to taste like a mouthful of household cleaner."

So Nano's right. Probably not most people's idea of yummy. Then again, people drink Jagermeister and eat haggis (hopefully not at the same time), so . . .

I'm starting to think that Nano is some kind of superagent, disguised as a flute-playing garage service-writer; he knows way too much about urea-laden sharks, the evolutionary history of cranes, martial arts and Asian languages than is right.

Post by **Nanohedron** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:10 pm

Herbi, I'm just a trivia sponge, that's all. Whenever I start blathering, just call me "Cliff Claven", and I'll shut up in a pique of embarrassment.

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:24 pm

DADDY!!!!