NZ Fishermen Land Colossal Squid

kiwiLB57 · 02-22-2007, 05:36 AM

Sets the bar for what is considered truly "Colossal".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6385071.stm

Quote:

NZ fishermen land colossal squid
New Zealand fishermen have caught what is expected to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid.
Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450kg (990lb),took two hours to land in Antarctic waters.

Local news said the Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was about 10m (33ft) long, and was the first adult colossal squid landed intact.

One expert said calamari rings made from it would be like tractor tyres.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," Steve O'Shea from Auckland's University of Technology told local media.

Colossal squid, which are found deep in Antarctic waters, are thought to be about the same length as giant squid (Architeutis dux) but are much heavier.

The species was first identified in 1925, but very few specimens have been found.

The first specimen recovered intact, a 150kg (330lb) immature female, was caught on the surface in the Ross Sea near the Antarctic coast in April 2004.

'Nearly dead'

Mr Anderton said the fishermen had been fishing for Patagonian toothfish in deep Antarctic waters when the squid - which was eating a toothfish - was caught.

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

"The colossal squid has just arrived in New Zealand and it is likely that it is the first intact adult male colossal squid to ever be successfully landed," Mr Anderton said

KevinNU7 · 02-22-2007, 07:52 AM

I read this on another board and hurried over here. Glad to see the thread was already created

dacman · 02-22-2007, 08:13 AM

Flying Spaghetti Monster my ass. All hail the Colossal Squid!

Subby · 02-22-2007, 08:26 AM

pics plz k thx

bye!

Coffee Warlord · 02-22-2007, 08:33 AM

All hail the Second Coming of the Colossal Squid!

Honolulu_Blue · 02-22-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Subby

pics plz k thx

bye!

lighthousekeeper · 02-22-2007, 12:09 PM

wow - from the looks of the picture, I think that NZ fishermna must be about 50ft long.

kiwiLB57 · 02-22-2007, 01:29 PM

Well we do have quite the reputation, but I can't cop to 50 ft, that would be a slight exaggeration.

Klinglerware · 02-22-2007, 01:54 PM

Hmm. I looked up "Patagonian Toothfish" on wiki, thinking that it would be something exotic. It turns out that toothfish is already marketed in the US as Chilean Sea Bass (while not so exotic, is still of course, somewhat expensive). I guess you learn something new every day. Who knew that it wasn't really a bass and may not even be Chilean?

dj_morton · 02-22-2007, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

That's a lot of bait!

Desnudo · 02-22-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klinglerware

Hmm. I looked up "Patagonian Toothfish" on wiki, thinking that it would be something exotic. It turns out that toothfish is already marketed in the US as Chilean Sea Bass (while not so exotic, is still of course, somewhat expensive). I guess you learn something new every day. Who knew that it wasn't really a bass and may not even be Chilean?

part of Patagonia is in Chile. I guess toothfish would be a little bit of a harder sell than sea bass.

Klinglerware · 02-22-2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desnudo

part of Patagonia is in Chile. I guess toothfish would be a little bit of a harder sell than sea bass.

True, though it looks like most of this stuff isn't caught around South America anymore because of overfishing...

cartman · 02-22-2007, 05:34 PM

Quote:

One expert said calamari rings made from it would be like tractor tyres.

I'm heading to Costco now for a 55 gallon drum of cocktail sauce.

sachmo71 · 07-07-2007, 08:22 AM

Ladies and gentlemen...the octosquid.

http://science.slashdot.org/article....11251&from=rss

MrDNA · 07-07-2007, 09:02 AM

Note to self: avoid ocean.

Crim · 07-07-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Ladies and gentlemen...the octosquid.

http://science.slashdot.org/article....11251&from=rss

It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

lighthousekeeper · 07-07-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crim

It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

gold

Ksyrup · 07-11-2007, 07:09 AM

Here's a runner-up to the NZ Squid - merely a giant, not colossal:

Giant Squid Appears in Australia

Jul 11 07:49 AM US/Eastern

HOBART, Australia (AP) - A squid as long as a bus and weighing 550 pounds washed up on an Australian beach, officials said Wednesday.

"It is a whopper," said Genefor Walker-Smith, a zoologist who studies invertebrates at the Tasmanian Museum.

Giant squid live in waters off southern Australia and New Zealand—where a half-ton colossus, believed to be the world's largest, was caught in February. They attract the sperm whales that feed on them.

The dead squid, measuring 3 feet across at its widest point and 26 feet from the tip of its body to the end of its tentacles, was found early Wednesday by a beachcomber at Ocean Beach on the island state of Tasmania's west coast, the museum said.

The squid was expected to be taken to the museum, where DNA and other scientific tests would be carried out before it is preserved and possibly put on public display.

For anyone thinking of a calamari feast, Walker-Smith said giant squid contain high levels of ammonia in their bodies as a buoyancy aid.

"It would not taste very nice at all," she said.

New Zealand fishermen netted a 1,100-pound, 33-foot-long squid in the Southern Ocean in February. It is widely believed to be the largest specimen of the rare and mysterious deep-water species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, or colossal squid, ever caught.

Experts believe the creatures, which have long been one of the most mysterious denizens of the deep ocean, may grow even bigger—up to 46-feet long.

kiwiLB57 · 07-11-2007, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Here's a runner-up to the NZ Squid - merely a giant, not colossal:

Standard Aussie tactic, always trying to get one-up on us.

Guess that shows 'em who has the biggest squids then. That'll teach 'em.

kiwiLB57

02-22-2007, 07:52 AM	#2
KevinNU7 College Starter Join Date: May 2003 Location: Beantown	I read this on another board and hurried over here. Glad to see the thread was already created __________________ Boston Bashers - III.14 - (8347)

02-22-2007, 08:13 AM	#3
dacman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: speak to the trout	Flying Spaghetti Monster my ass. All hail the Colossal Squid! __________________ No signatures allowed. Last edited by dacman : 02-22-2007 at 08:13 AM.

02-22-2007, 08:26 AM	#4
Subby lolzcat Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: sans pants	pics plz k thx bye! __________________ Superman was flying around and saw Wonder Woman getting a tan in the nude on her balcony. Superman said I going to hit that real fast. So he flys down toward Wonder Woman to hit it and their is a loud scream. The Invincible Man scream what just hit me in the ass!!!!! I do shit, I take pictures, I write about it: chrisshue.com

02-22-2007, 12:09 PM	#7
lighthousekeeper College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000	wow - from the looks of the picture, I think that NZ fishermna must be about 50ft long. __________________ ...

02-22-2007, 01:29 PM	#8
kiwiLB57 H.S. Freshman Team Join Date: May 2001 Location: London, United Kingdom	Well we do have quite the reputation, but I can't cop to 50 ft, that would be a slight exaggeration. __________________ And He Spoke Thusly "the run it at da white boy philosophy will not xsist wif out.... da white boys" Amen

02-22-2007, 08:33 AM	#5
Coffee Warlord Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Colorado Springs	All hail the Second Coming of the Colossal Squid!

02-22-2007, 01:54 PM	#9
Klinglerware College Starter Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The DMV	Hmm. I looked up "Patagonian Toothfish" on wiki, thinking that it would be something exotic. It turns out that toothfish is already marketed in the US as Chilean Sea Bass (while not so exotic, is still of course, somewhat expensive). I guess you learn something new every day. Who knew that it wasn't really a bass and may not even be Chilean?

07-07-2007, 08:22 AM	#14
sachmo71 The boy who cried Trout Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: TX	Ladies and gentlemen...the octosquid. http://science.slashdot.org/article....11251&from=rss

07-07-2007, 09:02 AM	#15
MrDNA High School Varsity Join Date: Jan 2007	Note to self: avoid ocean. __________________ Norfolk Flame (Shiba) Jacksonville Bulls (UFL) R.I.P. *Ayr Bravehearts (FOFL)*

07-11-2007, 07:09 AM	#18
Ksyrup This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off. Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: In Absentia	Here's a runner-up to the NZ Squid - merely a giant, not colossal: Giant Squid Appears in Australia Jul 11 07:49 AM US/Eastern HOBART, Australia (AP) - A squid as long as a bus and weighing 550 pounds washed up on an Australian beach, officials said Wednesday. "It is a whopper," said Genefor Walker-Smith, a zoologist who studies invertebrates at the Tasmanian Museum. Giant squid live in waters off southern Australia and New Zealand—where a half-ton colossus, believed to be the world's largest, was caught in February. They attract the sperm whales that feed on them. The dead squid, measuring 3 feet across at its widest point and 26 feet from the tip of its body to the end of its tentacles, was found early Wednesday by a beachcomber at Ocean Beach on the island state of Tasmania's west coast, the museum said. The squid was expected to be taken to the museum, where DNA and other scientific tests would be carried out before it is preserved and possibly put on public display. For anyone thinking of a calamari feast, Walker-Smith said giant squid contain high levels of ammonia in their bodies as a buoyancy aid. "It would not taste very nice at all," she said. New Zealand fishermen netted a 1,100-pound, 33-foot-long squid in the Southern Ocean in February. It is widely believed to be the largest specimen of the rare and mysterious deep-water species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, or colossal squid, ever caught. Experts believe the creatures, which have long been one of the most mysterious denizens of the deep ocean, may grow even bigger—up to 46-feet long. __________________ M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete."

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)