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Researchers film colossal squid in its natural habitat for the first time

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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

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On Wednesday, April 16, the University of Essex, England, reported that researchers had, for the first time, recorded footage of a colossal squid, a member of the glass squid family (Cranchiidae), living in the deep sea. The sighting of the 30-centimeter juvenile squid took place on March 9 near the uninhabited South Sandwich Islands, part of a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Researchers obtained the footage roughly 600 meters beneath the ocean’s surface.

The sighting marked 100 years since the colossal squid was formally recognized and named. The remotely operated vehicle called "SuBastian" that captured the photographs and video was launched from the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vehicle Falkor (too). It was part of a 35-day Ocean Census flagship expedition searching for new marine life.

According to the Schmidt Ocean Institute, the 35-day voyage aboard the R/V Falkor (too) was part of an international effort to discover new marine species. The expedition brought together researchers from several institutions and initiatives, including the Ocean Census project and GoSouth, with Dr Michelle Taylor from the University of Essex leading the scientific team. Dr Taylor said, "It’s incredible that we can leverage the power of the taxonomic community through Falkor (too) telepresence while we are out at sea."

Deep-sea biologist Kat Bolstad of Auckland University of Technology, who did not take part in the expedition, helped identify the species shown in the footage. "We're finally seeing confirmed footage of this animal that some of us have been studying and dreaming about for decades."


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