Colossal Discovery: Scientists Capture First-Ever Footage of Colossal Squid in the Wild

More than a century after the colossal squid was first identified, scientists have finally captured its elusive presence in the wild—offering a rare and mesmerizing glimpse into the life of one of the deep ocean's most mysterious giants.

In a historic moment for marine biology, scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor (too), have recorded the first confirmed video footage of a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) swimming freely in its natural habitat. The footage, taken in March near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, marks a breakthrough in our understanding of this rarely seen deep-sea creature.

Using a remotely operated vehicle named SuBastian, researchers filmed a juvenile squid at a depth of about 1,968 feet (600 meters). Though the species can grow to a staggering 23 feet (7 meters) and weigh over 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms)—making it the heaviest invertebrate on Earth—this young squid measured just under 1 foot (30 centimeters) in length.

A Rare Glimpse at a “Teenage” Squid