On June 19, 2019, marine biologists on the Journey into Midnight research mission captured footage of the living giant squid Architeuthis dux about 100 miles southeast of New Orleans.
A giant squid, at least 10-12 feet in length, approaches the Medusa’s e-jelly lure before realizing the e-jelly is not food and retreating. Image credit: Edie Widder & Nathan Robinson.
“It was magical and surreal to see how the animal behaves in nature,” said team member Dr. Heather Bracken-Grissom, a marine scientist at Florida International University.
“To know that I was witnessing something that had only been seen once before in nature filled me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and respect for what still is to be discovered.”
The video capture were made possible by a camera system called the Medusa, which was developed by Edie Widder, founder of the Ocean Research and Conservation Association.
“After five deployments and more than 120 hours of footage, our team gathered around a monitor as the giant squid came into view, first stalking the LED bait and eventually wrapping its long tentacles around it,” the researchers said.
“Quickly realizing the imposter jellyfish was not what it seemed, the giant squid thrust itself back into the darkness.”
“As quickly as it had entered the picture, it was gone. But it was enough to take the breath away of each of us.”
The biologists believe the giant squid they captured on camera was a juvenile, measuring between 10 to 12 feet (3-3.7 m) in length.
“When the squid appeared I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” said team member Dr. Lori Schweikert, also from Florida International University.
“I was elated, a feeling that was only matched by the deep satisfaction of sharing that moment with a team who had worked toward this discovery their entire life.”
“The old maps often showed serpents at the edge, with the warning ‘Here be monsters.’ However, the ‘monsters’ are here, in our own backyard,” the scientists said.
“It’s not often appreciated, but half of U.S. territory is underwater, extending 200 miles or so from the coast.”
“Most importantly, we did not find a monster. The giant squid is large and certainly unusual from our human perspective, but if the video shows anything of the animal’s character, it shows an animal surprised by its mistake, backing off after striking at something that at first must have seemed appealing but was obviously not food.”
