A rarely seen squid has finally made a live debut, deep under the Antarctic sea. On Christmas Day 2024, researchers captured rare footage of the elusive Antarctic gonate squid in its natural habitat—7,060 feet below the ocean’s surface.
Footage Confirms Decades-Old Mystery
Spotted using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) deployed from Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too), the squid was seen drifting silently through the pitch-dark bathypelagic zone. This vast, sunless region spans between 1,000 and 4,000 metres beneath the surface. When approached, the squid released a cloud of greenish ink before swimming away into darkness.
Scientists have known about this species for over a century. Until now, only dead specimens from fishing nets or beaks from predator stomachs had been examined. “This is, to the best of my knowledge, the first live footage of this animal worldwide,” said Kat Bolstad, a cephalopod expert from Auckland University of Technology.
Blood-Red Predator in the Dark
The squid, nearly 0.9 metres long, appeared blood-red under the ROV’s lights. It was identified by a single large hook on the ends of its two longest tentacles. These hooks, experts say, likely help grasp and subdue prey in ambush-style attacks.
Alex Hayward, an ecologist at the University of Exeter not involved in the mission, added the squid’s hook adaptations point to its predator role in this deep-sea ecosystem.
The footage, analysed and confirmed by Bolstad’s team, marks a major step in understanding deep-sea life. The creature’s sudden appearance offers a rare look into the lives of animals that live beyond human reach, in a world lit only by bioluminescence.
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