List of Colossal Squid
Records are listed chronologically in descending order and numbered accordingly.
- Date – Date on which the specimen was first captured, found, or observed. In cases where this is unknown, the date the specimen was first reported is listed instead.
- Location – Area where the specimen was found. Given as it appears in the cited references, except where additional information is provided in brackets.
- Oceanic sector – The quadrant of a major ocean in which the specimen was found (see Oceanic sectors).
- Method of capture – Method by which the specimen was recovered or observed. Given as it appears in the cited references, although "washed ashore" encompasses all stranded animals.
- Identification – Species or genus level taxon to which the specimen was originally assigned. Given as it appears in the cited references. Listed chronologically if specimen was re-identified.
- Material cited – Original specimen material that was recovered or observed.
- Material saved – Material that was kept after examination and not discarded (if any).
- Sex – Sex and sexual maturity of the specimen.
- Size and measurements – Data relating to measurements and counts. Abbreviations used are based on standardised acronyms in teuthology (see Measurements), with the exception of several found in older references.
- Repository – Institution in which the specimen material is kept. The acronyms used are those defined by Leviton et al. (1985) and Leviton & Gibbs (1988) (see Repositories). Where the acronym is unknown, the full repository name is listed.
- Cited references – Sources that provide specific data on a particular specimen.
- Additional references – Sources which merely refer to the specimen.
- Notes – Miscellaneous information.
Note: Names of anatomical features are retained from original sources (e.g. jaws may be given instead of the preferred beak).
| # | Date | Location | Oceanic sector | Method of capture | Identification | Material cited | Material saved | Sex | Size and measurements | Repository | Cited references | Additional references | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1925 | From sperm whale stomach | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925 | Two arm (brachial) crowns | Robson (1925:272) | ||||||||
| 1956/1957 | South Orkney Islands (59°41'S, 44°14'W) | SWA | From sperm whale stomach | Architeuthis sp.; Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925 | Head and mantle | Undetermined | HL: 30 cm; HW: 20 cm; ED: 16–17 cm; WL?: ~12 m | Korabelnikov (1959:103); Yukhov (1974:62) | Initial identification by I.I. Akimushkin. From 15.8 m long male sperm whale. | ||||
| 1956/1957 | South Shetland Islands (61°56'S, 52°39'W) | SWA | From sperm whale stomach | Architeuthis sp.; Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni Robson, 1925 | Fin only | Undetermined | FL: 41 cm; FW: 48 cm; WL?: ~10 m | Korabelnikov (1959:103); Yukhov (1974:62) | Initial identification by I.I. Akimushkin. From 15 m long male sperm whale. | ||||
| 1970 (reported) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire | Entire? | ML: 86 mm | McSweeny (1970) | Voss (1980:395, fig. 10b); Clarke (1986:199) | Juvenile specimen. Upper and lower beaks described and illustrated. | ||||||
| 1975 (reported) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | "large specimen"; ML unknown | Klumov & Yukhov (1975) | Clarke (1986:199) | Upper and lower beaks described and illustrated. | ||||||||
| 1980 (reported) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire | Entire? | Female (subadult) | ML: 1250 mm | Voss (1980) | |||||||
| 1980 (reported) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire | Entire? | ML: 23 mm | Voss (1980:395, fig. 10c) | Advanced paralarva. | |||||||
| 1980 (reported) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Two partial specimens; brachial crowns | Entire | NMNH | Voss (1980) | ||||||||
| 1981 | off Dronning Maud Land, Antarctic at depth of 750–770 m | By trawl | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire | Female (immature) | ML: 2.42 m; EL?: 5.1 m | Ellis (1998:147) | Caught by Soviet trawler Eureka (Эврика). Photographed by Alexander Remeslo. | |||||
| 1985 (reported) | at depth of 2000–2200 m | Trawled in opening-closing net (RMT8) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire? | ML: 1.05 m | Rodhouse & Clarke (1985) | |||||||
| 1986 (reported) | (47°51'S 40°01'W, WH 101 I/76) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Lower beak | Entire? | Female (juvenile) | LRL: 7.10 mm; ML: 225.0 mm | Clarke (1986:200, fig. A) | ||||||
| 1986 (reported) | S. Georgia | From sperm whale stomach | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Lower beak | Entire? | LRL: 13.50 mm | Clarke (1986:200, fig. B) | ||||||
| 1986 (reported) | S. Georgia | From sperm whale stomach | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Lower beak | Entire? | LRL: 20.40 mm | Clarke (1986:200, fig. C) | ||||||
| March 2003 | Ross Sea | Found floating on surface | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire; recovered in three pieces, later reassembled | Entire | Female (subadult) | ML: ~2.5 m; WL: ~5.4 m; LRL: 37 mm; WT: ~300 kg | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa | Numerous media sources | ||||
| 2004 (reported) | "in upper slope waters of the Kerguelen Archipelago" | From stomach contents of 22 sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | 89 beaks; 42 lower, 47 upper (minimum number of individuals: 49) | Entire | LRL: 10.1–38.8 mm; LRL(average): 22.3 mm ±7.2; ML(estimate): 61–237 cm; ML(average): 136 cm ±44; WT(estimate): 2.1–91.2 kg; WT(average): 24.4 kg ±22.1 | Cherel & Duhamel (2004) | M. hamiltoni beaks were found in 61.1% (22/36) of sleeper sharks examined. Beaks of this species accounted for 16.1% (89/553) of total recovered cephalopod beaks. M. hamiltoni accounted for 52.0% (1133621/2180535 g) of total reconstituted cephalopod biomass. | |||||
| 25 June 2005 | "South Georgia waters" at depth of 1625 m | Caught alive by long-lining fishing vessel; "caught on a number of hooks on a longline" set to target Patagonian toothfish | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire; alive | Head with tentacles and arms; mantle too heavy to bring aboard | WL(estimate): ~5 m; WT (estimate): 150–200 kg | South Georgia Newsletter June 2005 | Caught by longliner Isla Santa Clara. Five men, including the ship's scientific observer, attempted to bring the squid aboard. Paul McCarthy, the scientific observer, estimated the length and weight of the squid. Specimen was sent to King Edward Point (KEP) Scientists for formal identification. Two images taken by Ramon Ferreira Gomez. | |||||
| 8 January 2007 | "near the Ross Ice Shelf" | SWP | Caught by long-lining fishing vessel targeting Patagonian toothfish | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire; alive | None? | ML(estimate?): 12–14 ft | , | First recorded sighting of a mature colossal squid. Photographed alive in the water holding onto a Patagonian toothfish. | ||||
| "early February" (captured); 22 February 2007 (reported) | "in the Ross Sea" | SWP | Caught by New Zealand (Sanford Ltd.) vessel San Aspiring while fishing for Antarctic toothfish | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Entire; alive | Entire | Female | EL(initial estimate): 10 m; EL(after thawing): 4.2 m; ML: ~2.5 m; LRL: 41 mm; EyD(estimate): 30–40 cm; EyD(after thawing): 27 cm; LD: 12 cm; WT: 495 kg | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa | Anderton (2007); (2007a); Griggs (2007); (2007b); Black (2008); Atkinson (2008b) | Numerous media sources and website | First mature specimen ever recovered and largest extant cephalopod scientifically documented. Weight initially estimated at 450 kg. Tentacles and eyes shrunk considerably post mortem. | |
| 28 May 2007 (reported) | New Zealand? | SWP | From a research cruise | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Two tentacles | ML(estimate): 2 m | |||||||
| 20 March 2008 (reported) | Ross Sea | SWP | Caught by New Zealand research vessel Tangaroa | "colossal squid" | Several specimens | Juvenile | Atkinson (2008a) | ||||||
| 2009 (reported) | Kerguelen waters | SIO | Found in stomach contents of sleeper shark (Somniosus sp.) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Lower beak | Entire | (adult) | LRL: 23.6 mm | Xavier & Cherel (2009:55, fig. 10) | ||||
| 2009 (reported) | Kerguelen waters | SIO | Found in stomach contents of sleeper shark (Somniosus sp.) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Lower beak | Entire | (juvenile) | LRL: 10.4 mm | Xavier & Cherel (2009:56, fig. 10) | ||||
| 2009 (reported) | Kerguelen waters | SIO | Found in stomach contents of sleeper shark (Somniosus sp.) | Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni | Upper beak | Entire | URL: 27.7 mm | Xavier & Cherel (2009:86, fig. 10) | |||||
| 2 April 2012 (reported; found in previous week) | off Portland, Victoria, Australia | SWP | Found floating at surface, dead | "colossal type " | Entire? | ML?("body"): ~2 m; MW?: ~1 m; WT: 120 kg | Collins (2012) | Found by local fisherman and boat operator Bob McPherson while fishing for tuna in waters 700 m deep. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Colossal Squid Specimens And Sightings
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