Giant Squid Filmed Alive In US Waters For The First Time

This is the first time that a live giant squid has been recorded in US waters. This footage, captured in the Gulf of Mexico, is the second time that this animal has been seen in the wild. The first being in Japanese waters.

Giant squid are one of the largest animals on Earth, growing up to 14 meters (45 feet) in length. Yet despite their size, they have eluded film-makers, scientists and deep-sea explorers for decades.

To attract the giant squid, we used a luminous bait called an "eJelly".The eJelly emits light in a circular pattern, emulating the bioluminescent display of a deep-sea jellyfish.

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Video credits:
Nathan J. Robinson (Cape Eleuthera Institute)
Edie Widder (Team ORCA)

This work was conducted aboard the R/V Point Sur (University
of Southern Mississippi) and funded by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.

Additional thanks to:
Alexander Davis (Duke University)
Danté Fenolio (San Antonio Zoo / DEEPEND)
Megan McCall (Bayside Academy)
Heather Bracken-Grissom (Florida International University / DEEPEND)
Heather Judkins (University of South Florida / DEEPEND)
Lorian Schweikert (Florida International University)
Ruchao Qian (Nova Southeastern University)
Sönke Johnson (Duke University)
Tamara Frank (Nova Southeastern University / DEEPEND)
Tracey Sutton (Nova Southeastern University / DEEPEND)