One of those giants is the large-fin squid that belongs to the Magnapinnidae family, a group of deep-sea squid with large fins and long, curved arms and tentacles. It has been observed on rare occasions.
Now, new research published in the journal PLOS One details the incredible discovery of five large-finned squid in the Great Australian Bight, the first time they have been seen in Australian waters.
Although they weren’t all seen at once, their small differences allowed the researchers to confirm that they were five different animals and not just one camera-hungry squid.
The five were seen at depths of 2 to 3 kilometers over a 25-hour period , but were within 300 meters of each other, constituting a veritable crowd for an animal that had never been seen with a group of more than one.
Its size
The largest squid was over 1.8 meters long with a maximum tentacle length of almost 11 times its body size. White on the tips of its arms and tentacles, it also showed a mixture of brown, orange and pink tones on its upper extremities, mantle and fins.
Reference: Multiple observations of Bigfin Squid (Magnapinna sp.) In the Great Australian Bight reveal distribution patterns, morphological characteristics, and rarely seen behavior Deborah Osterhage, Hugh MacIntosh, Franziska Althaus, Andrew Ross. Published: November 11, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241066
