In brief
The Antarctic gonate squid was spotted for the first time alive during a 2024 research expedition, providing valuable insights into deep-sea life and biodiversity.
In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers aboard the R/V Falkor (Too) have made the first-ever live observation of the elusive Antarctic gonate squid, Gonatus antarcticus. This remarkable sighting occurred on Christmas Day 2024 while the crew was navigating the challenging waters of the Southern Ocean, specifically in the Powell Basin where ice block movements prompted a change in planned deployment.At a depth of around 7,000 feet, the team utilized their remotely operated vehicle, SuBastian, and spotted a three-foot-long squid casting a shadow on the live feed. They were able to capture this remarkable moment on video, including the squid's striking red color and white spots as it released a vibrant green ink cloud. “It was a beautiful squid,” remarked Andrew Thurber, a deep-sea researcher with the University of California, Santa Barbara, who participated in the expedition. “The deep ocean often reveals stunning creatures, and this sighting is a prime example.”Until this expedition, knowledge of the Antarctic gonate squid was limited to findings in fishing nets and gluttonous seabirds. Linsey Sala, a museum scientist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography not involved in the expedition, expressed her enthusiasm for such discoveries, stating that these sightings could dramatically enhance understanding of the lifestyles of deep-sea animals. Collectors worldwide might hold previously unidentified specimens, making the captured footage an important contribution to scientific knowledge of life at extraordinary depths.
