imagine this sliding up to you

[kuulani]

Rare Colossal Squid Caught Off Antarctica
VOA News
03 Apr 2003, 20:15 UTC

Auckland researchers with Colossal SquidFishermen off Antarctica have made an extremely rare catch - a colossal squid with eyes as big a dinner plates and razor sharp hooks on its tentacles.

Scientists in New Zealand announced the discovery Thursday. They said the 105-kilogram squid was caught near the surface of the Ross Sea, about 3,600 kilometers south of Wellington.

It is said to be the only intact colossal squid to be found. Remains of others have been discovered in the stomachs of sperm whales that prey on them.

Scientists say the body of the colossal squid is much bigger than the more-common giant squid, which can weight up to 900 kilograms when fully grown. The colossal squid is a formidable hunter which uses its hooks to rip its prey to bits.

The species resides as far north as New Zealand's South Island and down to the Ross Sea.

 

[Mirlyn]

Saw that....thats just insane

More pics here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2910849.stm

 

[Q]

Eiw. I don't even like the appetizer size squids.

 

[Squiggy]

kewl

 

[Justintime]

Was wondering when they were gonna get one.

 

[Justintime]

and this specimen is still immature, the NZ scientist believes.

"It's only half to two-thirds grown, so it grows up to four metres in mantle length." By comparison, the mantle of the giant squid, Architeuthis dux, is not known to attain more than 2.25 metres.

 

[MuFu]

I love squid. Delicious.

 

[kuulani]

Eiw. I don't even like the appetizer size squids.

remind me not to serve you any calamari

 

[MuFu]

What happens if they discover a squid bigger than the colossal squid? What are they going to call that?

The Humongous Squid?

 

[kuulani]

Holy crap!!

 

[MuFu]

[attachment]http://www.otcentral.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=171674[/attachment]

 

[Q]

OMG!!! The bus puts it in perspective

 

[Squiggy]

Taking a few liberties there, MuFu?

 

[ris]

yeah, but its delayed in squid traffic so don't expect to get anywhere soon

 

[Mirlyn]

woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooie!

 

[MuFu]

Hard to see what is going on there. Does that dude have a squid growing out of his elbow?

Tell you what ... if I was on that bus I'd be brickin' it.

 

[MuFu]

"After a hard day at the office, there's nothing a squid likes more than a nice, relaxing massage..."

 

[Q]

You don't wanna ride the crosstown calamari??

 

[Mirlyn]

Hard to see what is going on there. Does that dude have a squid growing out of his elbow?

"Is that a squid on your arm or are you just happy to see me?"

 

[MuFu]