Deep-sea Colossus: Squid tips scales at 450kg

New Zealand fishermen may have caught the largest Colossal squid, weighing about 450kg and with rings the size of tires.

The sea creature has eyes as big as dinner plates and swivelling, razor-sharp, hooks on its tentacles.

The adult Colossal squid (mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) was caught by fishermen long lining for toothfish in deep ocean off Antarctica, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.

The squid was still alive when caught and was eating a hooked toothfish when hauled aboard, Mr Anderton said in a statement.

“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,” he said.

“The crew stopped winching in the longline for two hours, while the squid was manoeuvred into a cargo net and hauled aboard,” he said.

The squid was frozen in the ship’s hull and brought back to New Zealand for scientific examination.

Colossal squid are one of the most mysterious creatures in the deep ocean, growing up to 42 feet in length. Mr Anderton said the squid would be photographed, measured, tissue sampled, registered and preserved intact.

Local media said estimates put the squid at 30 feet in length and weighing 450kg.

Squid expert Steve O’Shea at Auckland University of Technology said if calamari were made from the squid’s rings they would be the size of tractor tires.