The Largest Colossal Squid Ever Captured: 450 kg in Weight and 13 m in Length!

A New Zealand fishing crew has captured a colossal squid that could be a half-ton heavy and could be the biggest specimen ever landed. "The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs (450 kg) and about 39 feet long (13 m), took two hours to land in Antarctic waters," New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, traded as Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep. The squid was almost dead when it reached the surface, and the careful work of the crew was paramount in getting this specimen aboard in good condition," said Anderton.

The specimen was put on ice in the ship's hull and brought back to New Zealand for scientific research. The size of the beast has been only estimated by fishing crew and a fisheries official on board, but official measurements have not been taken yet and the date of the capture has not been made public.

Colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is believed to be the largest squid species, estimated to grow up to 46 feet (15 m) long and is bigger than the more known giant squid (Architeuthis dux), which can reach 39 feet (13 m), but is much less massive.

Unlike the giant squid, which seems to populate temperate waters around the world, colossal squids are found in Antarctic waters. Their mystery is increased by the fact that it inhabits the deep ocean.

If the estimations prove to be true, this is the largest squid ever captured, oversizing by 330 pounds (150 kg) the previous biggest specimen ever captured. "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.

"If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires," he added. "Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet (2,200 m) and are extremely active, aggressive hunters," he said.

The frozen squid will be harbored to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be investigated by scientists. Researchers "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," said Anderton. "The colossal squid has just arrived in New Zealand and it is likely that it is the first intact adult male colossal squid to ever be successfully landed," Mr Anderton said.

The species was first detected in 1925, in the form of two tentacles spitted by a sperm whale. The first specimen recovered intact, a 150kg immature female, 15 feet (5 m) (photo), was captured in the Ross Sea (near the Antarctic coast) in 2005.