A rare bigfin squid, a species observed or collected only about 70 times in recorded history, has been sighted off the coast of California. Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) encountered the elusive creature on Aug. 7 while aboard their research vessel, the David Packard.
The squid was observed nearly two miles beneath the ocean's surface, swimming into view of a camera attached to an underwater vehicle. Postdoctoral researcher Olívia Soares Pereira, who was monitoring the camera feed, initially mistook the creature for a jellyfish before recognizing its distinctive "elbow" and identifying it as a Magnapinna squid.
"I knew exactly who this was and immediately screamed ‘Magnapinna!’ before the rest of the squid even came into the screen,” Pereira stated. “It was incredibly exciting!”
The researchers noted that the squid was hovering above the seafloor, using two large fins and trailing eight arms and two tentacles. Using a laser measuring system, they estimated the squid's length from the top of its body to the ends of its arms to be approximately 1.25 meters (4.1 feet).
The expedition's primary goal was not to find the bigfin squid but to study seamounts, underwater mountains located off the coast of Central California, including Sur Ridge and Davidson Seamount. These seamounts are known biodiversity hotspots, supporting habitats for corals, sponges, and various marine life.
Andrew DeVogelaere, a senior researcher on the expedition, expressed his surprise at the sighting. "I was stunned — this is the first confirmed bigfin squid sighting in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and a powerful reminder of what we still have to discover in the ocean’s depths. We live next door to a magical place,” he said.
The expedition utilized an underwater drone to investigate whether whales were leaving furrows in the sediment of the Davidson Seamount while hunting fish. Researchers collected water samples for environmental DNA analysis to identify shed genetic material from animals in the area. They also deployed hydrophones to capture underwater sounds, potentially identifying specific whale species present.
Little is known about the bigfin squid, including its diet, reproductive methods, and the function of its tentacles. Pereira noted her long-standing fascination with deep-sea animals and the profound experience of witnessing such a rarely seen creature.