Colossal squid a colossal wuss - experts

Last updated 09:15 21/08/2008

PHIL REID/The Dominion Post

WUSS: Marine biologist Steve O'Shea with Te Papa???s half-tonne colossal squid. New research suggests the sea creature was a not a fearsome predator but a colossal wuss.

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Te Papa’s half-tonne colossal squid was a not a fearsome predator but a colossal wuss, new research has suggested.

While the squid was firmly in the heavy-weight fighting division, tipping the scales at 495 kilograms, it was little more than an “enormous blob” according to squid expert Steve O’Shea.

He said experts now believed colossal squid grew more docile as they grew bigger, a strange phenomenon that has caught scientists off guard.

“We are looking at something verging on the incredibly bizarre,” Dr O’Shea said.

“As she gets bigger she is reduced to little more than a giant gelatinous blob.”

This could have something to do with the breeding patterns of the deep sea behemoth, which scientists knew very little about, Dr O’Shea said.

Giant squid had reputations as aggressive and dangerous predators and colossal squid had been the subject of much fear and misrepresentation.

But as the colossal squid grew bigger, they grew shorter and wider. This was likely to impact their behaviour and their ability to hunt, Dr O’Shea said

“I can’t imagine an animal like this jetting itself around the water at any great speed.”

However, when the squid were smaller they were more aggressive, as shown by a smaller female caught in 2003.

“It’s not sitting down there sipping on cups of tea or anything like that.

“It’s got this arsenal of beaks and hooks which at some stage in its life-cycle it would have used.”

Dr O’Shea said these ideas were still only theory however, and he was not willing to bet the house on his hypothesis.

“I still don’t want to be in the water with it.”

There was still no record of the behaviour of male colossal squid which could live in different areas and behave completely differently, he said.

In theory, Jules Verne’s man-eating colossal squid could still be lurking beneath the surface.

Little is known of these animals as they live in the near freezing Antarctic waters at depths in excess of 1000 metres.

Young squid are not uncommon in surface waters to 1000 metres, but adults of this species are exceedingly rare in collections.

The documentary on the colossal squid will feature on the Discovery Channel later this month.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

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18 comments

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portchester #18 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

i would not want to be in water with it regardless how docile it may be

Pamela #17 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

And so you shall - the colossal squid will be on display at Te Papa later this year. Then visitors to Te Papa will be able to see if she really looks like a giant gelatinous blob, or not...

Michael #16 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I would suspect that as a Dr he would not have called it a theory.

The journalist may have gotten the wrong idea, as theory in the scientific world means something a little different.

Daniel M #15 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Imagine this people: "You are all alone.........floating in a vast dark ocean at night. And then something slowly emerges from the deep void, it gently brushes its rugged/textured body against your feet. You reach down and feel sharp claws cascading down a bumpy tenticle". What Dr Steve O???Shea says is most likely true and although an awesome beast, it still scares the hell out of me.

George #14 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

You guys obviously don't know enough scientists.

Steve O'Shea #13 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

You're coming down a little hard on me Mike.

I've actually done quite a bit of comparative anatomy (and I'm not talking about external morphology here) on these and related cranchiid squid, and have had many a live squid in a tank for a prolonged period of time (including cranchiids, the likes of Teuthowenia, for periods of 15 days). Based on detailed examination of fully mature cranchiids (such as Teuthowenia), and comparing the anatomy of this species (of which we have many specimens) and that of Mesonychoteuthis (the solossal squid) we've developed a theory.

The article itself is entertaining, and serves its purpose (so thanks Michael Fox for writing it). However, getting essoteric anatomical detail over to the average reader would bore them to tears, so why would I try and impress upon them 'just how clever [right or wrong] I may be'. Horses for courses. Let the scientific paper, post peer review, speak for itself.

I don't want to throw any grenades here.

mike #12 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

How does steve o'shea know this? Has he studied their behavioural patterns in the wild, i think not! Basically this story tells us nothing more than we already know about the squid. Steve o'shea himself admits this by claiming their behaviour to be only a "theory". Thus, his evidence for the type of behaviour describe above is only as valid as the peoples' claims for the existence of the yeti. To summarise the whole article is a bloody fairy tale!!!!!

chocolate #11 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

lol imagine having that in your fish tank

Mythbuster #10 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I'm afraid the 'bees can't fly' comment is a busted myth. Please scroll to the bottom of the following link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee

Steve's not saying that the squid can't swim, he's saying that is is likely incapable of sustained, high-speed jet propulsion.

squidman #9 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

SQUID 4 LIFE WAAAAHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO

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