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NZ fishermen land colossal squid
New Zealand fishermen have caught what is expected to be a world-record-breaking colossal squid.
Fisheries
Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 450kg
(990lb),took two hours to land in Antarctic waters. Local news said the
Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni was about 10m (33ft) long, and was the first
adult colossal squid landed intact. One expert said calamari rings made
from it would be like tractor tyres. I can assure you that this is
going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing,” Steve O’Shea
from Auckland’s University of Technology told local media. Colossal
squid, which are found deep in Antarctic waters, are thought to be
about the same length as giant squid ( Architeutis dux ) but are much
heavier. The species was first identified in 1925, but very few
specimens have been found. The first specimen recovered intact, a 150kg
(330lb) immature female, was caught on the surface in the Ross Sea near
the Antarctic coast in April 2004.‘Nearly dead’
Mr
Anderton said the fishermen had been fishing for Patagonian toothfish
in deep Antarctic waters when the squid – which was eating a toothfish
– was caught. “The squid was almost dead when it reached the surface,
and the careful work of the crew was paramount in getting this specimen
aboard in good condition,” he said. The squid was frozen in the ship’s
hull and brought back to New Zealand for scientific examination. “The
colossal squid has just arrived in New Zealand and it is likely that it
is the first intact adult male colossal squid to ever be successfully
landed,” Mr Anderton said.
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