Florida Fishermen Catch 25-Foot-Long Giant Squid

Feuer Frei! · 07-02-11, 12:29 AM

What a monster!

University of Florida researcher Roger Portell injects preservative into a 25-foot-long giant squid Monday night. Photo: Jeff Gage, University of Florida/Florida Museum of Natural History.

Giant squid are creatures of the deep ocean. So it was quite a surprise when recreational fishermen spotted one floating on the surface some 12 miles off of Florida’s Jensen Beach on Sunday. They hauled the 25-foot-long dying invertebrate on to their 23-foot-long boat. “I thought we definitely need to bring it in, because no one’s going to believe us if we don’t,” said Robert Benz, who was fishing with friends Joey Asaro and Paul Peroulakis. “I didn’t want to leave it out there and just let the sharks eat it.”
On Monday scientists at the University of Florida’s Florida Museum of Natural History preserved the squid, which died shortly after it was found. John Slapcinsky, the museum’s malacology collection manager, explained that giant squid reproduce just once in their lifetime, and then often become lethargic and die slowly. That’s probably what happened to this animal, as it was discovered barely alive near the surface. The finding offers a rare opportunity to learn more about the elusive creatures, which can grow to be 60 feet long, top 1,000 pounds, and have pigment cells on their white-and-red skin that allow them to rapidly change color, presumably for communication or camouflage.

MORE HERE

Betonov · 07-02-11, 01:57 AM

Jimbuna · 07-02-11, 06:24 AM

Reminds me of my honeymoon in Cyprus where we are a lot of squid but nothing near that amount

Alex · 07-02-11, 06:31 AM

LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betonov

nikimcbee · 07-05-11, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

LOL

+1

vienna · 07-05-11, 06:14 PM

This brought to mind an ex-girlfriend who loved calamari from the first time she tried it on a visit we made to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco; always asked for it whenever we went to a seafod retaurant; the obsession ended when I told her calamari was squid; for some reason she didn't know it was squid and I never told her before because I thought she already knew...

Platapus · 07-05-11, 08:35 PM

They only reproduce once in their life? I did not know that.

Of course there is still a lot we don't know about the Giant Squid.

07-02-11, 12:29 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	Florida Fishermen Catch 25-Foot-Long Giant Squid What a monster! University of Florida researcher Roger Portell injects preservative into a 25-foot-long giant squid Monday night. Photo: Jeff Gage, University of Florida/Florida Museum of Natural History. Giant squid are creatures of the deep ocean. So it was quite a surprise when recreational fishermen spotted one floating on the surface some 12 miles off of Florida’s Jensen Beach on Sunday. They hauled the 25-foot-long dying invertebrate on to their 23-foot-long boat. “I thought we definitely need to bring it in, because no one’s going to believe us if we don’t,” said Robert Benz, who was fishing with friends Joey Asaro and Paul Peroulakis. “I didn’t want to leave it out there and just let the sharks eat it.” On Monday scientists at the University of Florida’s Florida Museum of Natural History preserved the squid, which died shortly after it was found. John Slapcinsky, the museum’s malacology collection manager, explained that giant squid reproduce just once in their lifetime, and then often become lethargic and die slowly. That’s probably what happened to this animal, as it was discovered barely alive near the surface. The finding offers a rare opportunity to learn more about the elusive creatures, which can grow to be 60 feet long, top 1,000 pounds, and have pigment cells on their white-and-red skin that allow them to rapidly change color, presumably for communication or camouflage. MORE HERE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

07-02-11, 06:24 AM	#3
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Reminds me of my honeymoon in Cyprus where we are a lot of squid but nothing near that amount __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-05-11, 08:35 PM	#7
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,369 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	They only reproduce once in their life? I did not know that. Of course there is still a lot we don't know about the Giant Squid. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-02-11, 01:57 AM	#2
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0

07-05-11, 06:14 PM	#6
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,712 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	This brought to mind an ex-girlfriend who loved calamari from the first time she tried it on a visit we made to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco; always asked for it whenever we went to a seafod retaurant; the obsession ended when I told her calamari was squid; for some reason she didn't know it was squid and I never told her before because I thought she already knew...