Largest Squid Ever CAUGHT in New Zealand!

[Prognosticator]

Cool story.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070222/ap_on_fe_st/new_zealand_colossal_squid_4

New Zealand fishermen catch rare squid
By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 22, 7:41 AM ET
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - 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.

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The squid, weighing an estimated 990 lbs 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. 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 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.

 

[Erundur]

39 ft long? Holy Toledo! :transformer:

 

[bulok]

that's pretty sweet, wonder what they taste like

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

They are catching more giant squid every day!
And they're getting larger every day!
Could these be captured scouts that were sent ahead by a hidden army of them?

 

[Erundur]

*snaps fingers*

 

[AndThePickles]

Yuck

 

[Spoarz™]

Damn, that is one huge squid.

 

[Prognosticator]

They are catching more giant squid every day!
And they're getting larger every day!
Could these be captured scouts that were sent ahead by a hidden army of them?

INVASION!

**Flashback of Dolphin land dwellers on the Simpsons Halloween Special**

 

[FaT_tONle]

All we need now is the 60 foot blood orchid anaconda

 

[SWAT]

Kraken!!

 

[bored]

Nobody tell the squid's friends he's dead.

 

[Mr. Credible]

that's awesome... i saw the article, but didn't read it, is it still alive?

seriously, though... what should they name it? i'd go with hank.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Sid the Squid

 

[redmarvel]

Collossus

 

[The Squirrel]

So glad I'm in Texas and nowhere near a large body of open water.

 

[tupelohoney]

holy crap. look at this monstrosity. imagine reeling that thing in.

crazy huh?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/22/ap/strange/mainD8NEOV9O0.shtml

 

[CyberFaust]

arrrg baby

 

[Mrh7448]

I saw that but did they really need to drag it on board and freeze it for study? Couldn't they have just left the damn thing in the water...it was alive when they caught.

 

[CyberFaust]

[pirate\] Arrrrrg baby!!!![\pirate]

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Wait!
They caught a 990 lb. one in New Zealand this morning already in the thread a few threads down on the first page here....and now they've caught a 1,000 lb. one also in New Zealand?!?

I told you...INVASION...and it looks like NZ is ground ZERO.

 

[Canadian Rider]

So they have a Colossal Squid and Giant Squid.

What happened to "Really, Really Big" Squid?

 

[Canadian Rider]

what is with the Godzilla on the Hype today?

That is the invasion!

 

[BRUTAL]

Wait!
They caught a 990 lb. one in New Zealand this morning already in the thread a few threads down on the first page here....and now they've caught a 1,000 lb. one also in New Zealand?!?

I told you...INVASION...and it looks like NZ is ground ZERO.

Same guy in the picture though... looks like he's on top of things... I trust him

 

[The Lizard]

This story calls for a Gezora pic instead of a Godzilla pic...

 

[ang_hulk]

you gotta wonder why theyve become so common,its only a matter of time befre they kill somone