A colossal squid is caught on camera for the first time in the deep sea

By CHRISTINA LARSON A colossal squid has been caught on camera for the first time in the deep sea by an international organization of researchers steering a remotely operated submersible Related Articles Astronomers detect a workable signature of life on a distant planet Tatooine-like planet outside the solar system may orbit two failed stars scientists say Harvard stands to lose billion in federal funding Researchers fear science will suffer A strong solar storm heads to Earth Here s what to know about northern lights Blue Origin launches an all-female celebrity crew with Katy Perry Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez The sighting was reported Tuesday by the Schmidt Ocean Institute The squid filmed was a juvenile about foot in length at a depth of feet in the South Atlantic Ocean Full-grown adult colossal squids which scientists have uncovered from the bellies of whales and seabirds can reach lengths up to feet almost the size of a small fire truck The squid was spied last month near the South Sandwich Islands during an expedition to search for new sea life Researchers waited to verify the species identification with other independent scientists before releasing the footage I really love that we have seen a young colossal squid first This animal is so beautiful revealed Kat Bolstad a squid researcher at the Auckland University of Hardware in New Zealand who helped confirm it Researchers are testing different cameras in hopes of catching an adult colossal squid Bolstad mentioned The young squid is almost entirely transparent with thin arms As adults the squids lose this glassy appearance and become an opaque dark red or purple When full grown they are considered to be the world s largest known invertebrates AP video journalist Mustakim Hasnath contributed to this summary The Associated Press Fitness and Science Department receives sponsorship from the Howard Hughes Physiological Institute s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The AP is solely responsible for all content