What is the Colossal Squid? Everything about marine animal found in Antarctic Ocean

While we humans have inhabited the earth for a long period, the reality is that 71% of the earth’s surface has been covered in water. Yet, the marine ecosystem is little known. The creatures in this ecosystem have not been researched to the full extent. One of the most important animals in this is the colossal squid which is also known by its scientific name ‘Mesonychoteuthis Hamiltoni’. When it is fully grown up, the creature is about as big as a bus and weighs more than 1100 pounds. It is believed to be found in the Southern Ocean in Antarctica in its natural habitat.

It is the largest invertebrate species in the earth. It has never been found in its natural habitat. Scientists get to observe this creature only when trawlers accidentally catch them in the net. However, this is about to change. This oceanographic study appears to have been lucky when an international research team and a non-profit called Kolossal stumbled upon a young colossal squid during one of its four Antarctic trips from December 2022 to March 2023. This is for the first time.

The team used a novel approach for capturing the imaging of the ocean. This led to fixing a polar tourism vessel called the ‘Ocean Endeavor’ with a deep-sea camera. The team released a video which the IFL Science team immediately released on YouTube.



In a detailed chapter, this team wrote that Antarctica is undergoing rapid changes and it is important to conduct a study on this organism to understand these changes. It is a well-known fact that climate change is melting glaciers at a rapid pace and its effects on the Antarctic are well known, as established by numerous studies.

While there is potential for tourism, the issue is related to scientific advancement. While the team from Kolossal has released a video of their exploration and the capture of this creature, there are possibilities of the wrong creature being captured. This will have to be peer-reviewed before anything else. However, this is considered to be a big victory for marine biologists.

FAQs:

1. Is Antarctica the driest continent?
It is the driest continent. It is also the highest, windiest and coldest continent in the world. It is covered in 4km of thick ice.

2. Does any country own the Antarctica?
No single country owns the continent. There is an international treaty called the Antarctic Treaty which governs the use of this territory.