Elusive ocean creature filmed alive in the wild for first time off Antarctica
But for a group of researchers spending Christmas on a research vessel in the troubled waters around Antarctica, a different creature of legend helped make their day magical.
The remote-operated vehicle SuBastian, part of the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel R/V Falkor (too), dropped to a depth of about 7,000 feet when a colorful creature came into focus on the vehicle's camera, according to a June 10 article and news release from National Geographic.
The colorful animal was about 3 feet long and covered in 'fresh-looking sucker marks' and 'scratches,' researchers said.
It was identified as Gonatus antarcticus, a species that had never been seen before alive in the wild, according to National Geographic.
'Prior to the astonishing discovery, the species was only known from carcasses in fishing nets or when the squids' beaks were found in the stomach of fished marine animals,' National Geographic said in the news release. '... Spotted at a depth of approximately (7,000 feet) in the Weddell Sea, researchers have not been able to confirm the squid's sex from the footage, nor age, but the discovery is a reminder of how much more there is to learn about the relatively unexplored polar regions of our world's (oceans).'
Kathrin Bolstad, a squid expert, told National Geographic the squid could be identified by a 'large single central hook observed on each tentacle club,' according to the release.
Experts believe the hooks are used to hold prey while hunting, according to National Geographic, but because of the animal's elusive lifestyle, very little is known about their ecology and day-to-day lives.
If the squid is a female, she's particularly large for her sex when females typically start to deteriorate near the end of their life cycle, Bolstad told National Geographic.
If the squid is a male, it might mean males don't break down near the end of their lives like the females. Another possibility is that there is more than one species of squid being classified as Gonatus antarcticus that keeps its color throughout its life because the animals are so understudied, the squid expert said.
'In the deep sea, there's always a good chance you're seeing something for the first time,' Bolstad told National Geographic. 'The potential for discoveries and exploration is pretty much limitless.'
During the expedition, researchers also collected sediment samples, water and biota samples throughout the Southern Ocean at depths of up to 13,000 feet and across abyssal plains, hydrothermal vents, troughs, canyon walls and sea ice, according to the release.
The Weddell Sea is 'one of the few near-pristine ecosystems on the planet,' according to the outlet, exciting researchers about its study.
The Weddell Sea is part of the Southern Ocean off the coast of Antarctica, south of the Atlantic Ocean and South America.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Stunning images of life captured in dive to ocean floor off Argentina. See them
A team of 30 Argentinian scientists aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's state-of-the-art research vessel Falkor (too) has embarked on the first-ever journey to the underwater Mar Del Plata Canyon off the coast of Argentina. Mar del Plata sits more than 2 miles below the ocean surface, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute. This mysterious part of the ocean is at the junction of two powerful currents, one of which is salty and warm, while the other is cold and rich in nutrients, creating a highly biodiverse environment, experts said. The 20-day Talud Continental IV expedition, which began July 22, makes use of the remotely operated vehicle 'SuBastian' to visit the seafloor and record the marine life without disturbing the environment, according to a July 30 news release from Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET). It is the first time SuBastian, capable of capturing ultra-high-definition images and collecting samples, has been used in Argentine waters, according to the release. Expedition leader Dr. Daniel Lauretta said exploring the underwater region is like exploring another planet, adding that with every dive, there is something new to discover, according to the release. The team will collect many samples including environmental DNA, such as shed skin, which will allow them to identify animals that live in that habitat but may not have been directly observed, researchers said. SuBastian will allow researchers to gather 'evidence of coral gardens and animal communities they know exist but have never seen in their natural setting,' and likely aid in the discovery of many new species, according to experts. SuBastian's dives to the ocean floor are being live-streamed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute 's YouTube channel. Recordings of previous dives from this expedition, labeled Mar Del Plata Canyon, can be found under past live streams section. The expedition will conclude Aug. 10. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Record-Breaking 515-Mile-Long Lightning Strike Captured Over the US
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has certified a jaw-dropping new world record for the longest single lightning flash ever recorded. The lightning coursed a staggering 515 miles across the southern United States—travelling all the way from eastern Texas to near Kansas City, Missouri. The "megaflash" took place in October 2017 during a powerful thunderstorm system over the Great Plains, one of North America's most active storm zones. The lightning bolt spanned a distance that would take a commercial plane at least 90 minutes to fly. This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment Professor Randall Cerveny "This new record clearly demonstrates the incredible power of the natural environment," said Professor Randall Cerveny, rapporteur of Weather and Climate Extremes for the WMO. "It is likely that even greater extremes still exist, and that we will be able to observe them as additional high-quality lightning measurements accumulate over time." This flash surpassed the previous record holder: a 477.2 mile flash, set in the U.S. in 2020. Both records were measured using the same "great circle" distance methodology. But the 2017 event was only recently identified through re-analysis using satellite instruments, including NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16). "These new findings highlight important public safety concerns about electrified clouds that can produce flashes which travel extremely large distances and have a major impact on the aviation sector and can spark wildfires," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo. Satellite image of the record extent lightning flash that extended from eastern Texas to near Kansas City MO USA within a 22 October 2017 thunderstorm complex. Satellite image of the record extent lightning flash that extended from eastern Texas to near Kansas City MO USA within a 22 October 2017 thunderstorm complex. World Meteorological Organization WMO Lightning mapping has traditionally relied on ground-based systems, but recent advancements in space-based technology have expanded the observation range. Instruments like the GOES-R series' Geostationary Lightning Mappers (GLMs), Europe's MTG Lightning Imager, and China's FY-4 satellite now provide continuous global lightning surveillance. As these extreme cases show, lightning can arrive within seconds over a long distance. Walt Lyons These "megaflash" events challenge previously understood boundaries of how far and long lightning can travel and reveal more about the dangers of extreme weather. "The extremes of what lightning is capable of is difficult to study because it pushes the boundaries of what we can practically observe," said lead author and evaluation committee member Michael J. Peterson, of the Severe Storms Research Center (SSRC) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA in a statement. "Adding continuous measurements from geostationary orbit was a major advance. We are now at a point where most of the global megaflash hotspots are covered by a geostationary satellite—and data processing techniques have improved to properly represent flashes in the vast quantity of observational data at all scales," "The only lightning-safe locations are substantial buildings that have wiring and plumbing; not structures such as at a beach or bus stop. The second reliably safe location is inside a fully enclosed metal-topped vehicle; not dune buggies or motorcycles," warned WMO lightning expert Walt Lyons. "As these extreme cases show, lightning can arrive within seconds over a long distance." Other notable lightning records The WMO has recorded other noteworthy lightning events, including: The longest-lasting flash at 17.1 seconds over Uruguay and northern Argentina in 2020. The deadliest direct strike, which killed 21 people in Zimbabwe in 1975. The worst indirect strike, which killed 469 people in Egypt in 1994 after lightning ignited oil tanks that flooded the town of Dronka. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about lightning? Let us know via science@ Reference Peterson et al. (2025). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
New Niagara Falls attraction reaches for the stars
They've brought you to see the animals in Africa and Australia, digitally. Now, the owners of Hologram Zoo Niagara want to send you to space. The Space Experience is an immersive installation that brings visitors to the stars using the same holographic technology as the virtual zoo, which opened in June. Developed by Australian-based company Axiom Holographics, the attraction will create the illusion of travelling at warp speed, visiting the International Space Station and seeing a supernova up close, along with projections of the eight planets. It's at the same location as the Hologram Zoo — the corner of Victoria Avenue and Bender Street, across from Casino Niagara. Owner Marty Speelman says it's the first of several themed shows coming to the venue. 'The plan was always that every four or five months to introduce a new show,' he says. 'There's always revolving content. There's a Halloween show coming, a Christmas show coming, seasonal content as well.' As visitors walk through the attraction, motion-tracked projections and layered lighting create a sense of movement and depth around them. It makes people feel part of the environment, not just passersby, says Speelman. 'You do things like go through the tail of comet, see a star being born, you do a space walk, all those kinds of things.' While designing it, Axiom consulted with astronomers and science educators for accuracy. A narrator explains what people are seeing without 'overwhelming' detail. Speelman says the Hologram Zoo is off to a solid start, despite its location away from the main tourist hub. 'Everyone who comes through has been loving it,' he says. 'The challenge for us is, we're not on Clifton Hill. We're a couple-minute walk away. It's just getting people to know that we're there. 'We have a mix of social media marketing and we have a staff person out on the street handing out flyers.' Axiom's head of Canadian business development, John Jackson, says there are plans to open between 30 and 40 hologram zoos throughout Canada. The Space Experience is making its Canadian debut in Niagara Falls. Admission to the Space Experience is $19.99 to $24.99, with combo prices available for both attractions.
