A team of scientists has filmed a living colossal squid in its natural habitat for the first time, a historic moment exactly 100 years after the species was discovered. The footage, shot nearly 2,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, reveals a juvenile squid, about a foot long, swimming gracefully in the dark waters near the South Sandwich Islands.
The breakthrough came on March 9 during a 35-day expedition aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel, Falkor (too). Researchers used a remotely operated vehicle, SuBastian, to explore the remote South Atlantic for new marine life. They spotted the squid at a depth of 600 meters, its translucent body and delicate arms catching their eye.
“It was stunning,” said Michelle Taylor, the expedition’s chief scientist from the University of Essex. “We filmed it because it looked so unusual, but we didn’t know what we had until later.”
The video, verified by squid experts, marks the first confirmed sighting of a colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) in its deep-sea home. Since its discovery in 1925—found in a sperm whale’s stomach—the species has remained a mystery. Only eight adult specimens, often dead or dying, have been studied, usually caught by fishermen or found in predator stomachs.
“It’s humbling to see this creature, totally unaware of humans,” said Kat Bolstad, a cephalopod expert at Auckland University of Technology who helped identify the squid. “For 100 years, we’ve only seen scraps of them.”
The juvenile in the footage, part of the glass squid family, had transparent skin and hooks on its arms—a key trait distinguishing it from similar species like the glacial glass squid. Its large, pearly eyes, the biggest of any animal, shimmered faintly.
“You can see the shine off those eyeballs,” Bolstad said, noting rust-colored spots that let it shift between clear and opaque.
The squid’s elusiveness comes from its sensitive eyes, which likely spot noisy, bright research gear from afar.
“They’re good at avoiding us,” said Aaron Evans, a glass squid expert who reviewed the video. “I was practically hyperventilating when I saw those arm hooks.”
Colossal squids, the heaviest invertebrates on Earth, can grow to 23 feet and weigh over 1,100 pounds. Unlike giant squids, which are longer but lighter, they live only in Antarctic waters. Little is known about their diet, lifespan, or reproduction, but this footage offers clues about their early life.
“It’s a beautiful, delicate animal,” Bolstad said. “Not the monster people imagine.”
The expedition, part of the Ocean Census with partners like the Nippon Foundation and British Antarctic Survey, aimed to document new species. The footage was livestreamed, and a viewer alerted Evans to its significance.
“This shows how much the ocean still hides,” said Jyotika Virmani, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s executive director.
For now, the team hopes to spot an adult squid, with its thick muscles and rotating tentacle hooks. Until then, this video is a rare glimpse into a world few have seen, stirring awe among scientists and sea lovers alike.
“This isn’t just a squid,” said Tom Linley, a deep-sea researcher on the team. “It’s proof there’s so much left to discover.”