Out of sight, out of mind, right? It’s easy to forget about the many mysterious creatures living in the depths of our oceans and seas. There are countless species we don’t even know exist, and the ones we have identified, we know very little about. The bigfin squid is one of the latter, and stunning new footage of it has been captured at a depth of 10,827 feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Let’s uncover (the fairly little) that we know about this marine resident!
Why This Sighting Is a Big Moment
This squid is a camera-shy one that likes to hide away in the deep and dark corners of our oceans.
The bigfin squid sighting is a significant moment for deep-sea research, especially in the relatively unexplored Tonga Trench. Fewer than 20 sightings of this squid have ever been recorded. The squid was filmed using a deep-sea lander armed with bait, reaching depths of over two miles below the ocean’s surface.
One of the Largest Ever Recorded
The Bigfin Squid is an unbelievable sight not only because of its rarity, but also because of its huge size.
Bigfin squids are known for their incredibly long, spindly tentacles, which can grow up to 26 feet in length. The squid spotted in the Tonga Trench measured an impressive 23 feet long, making it one of the largest individuals ever recorded.
The Expedition Behind the Discovery
This remarkable footage was captured by the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre in collaboration with Inkfish, as part of their ongoing 2024 Tonga Trench Expedition. The mission runs from July to October, using submersibles and deep-sea landers to map and survey the second-deepest oceanic trench in the world.
We Know More About the Moon Than We Do About Our Planet’s Ocean Floor
Despite advances in space exploration, our ocean floor remains largely unexplored. Over 80% of the ocean remains unmapped, making it more mysterious than the surface of the Moon. The ocean’s vastness and depth present significant challenges. In contrast, the Moon’s surface has been extensively studied due to its accessibility and proximity.
Expeditions like the Tonga Trench Expedition 2024 help bridge this knowledge gap by exploring Earth’s deepest and least accessible environments.
A Mysterious Species
The bigfin squid belongs to the genus Magnapinna, meaning “great fin” in Latin. Only three species of bigfin squid have been formally described, but scientists believe more may exist, still hidden in the ocean depths.
Exploring the Horizon Deep
The expedition aims to gather data on both marine life and geology in the Tonga Trench, specifically Horizon Deep, which is the deepest point of the trench at 35,433 feet below sea level. So far, the team has made notable discoveries about the lack of biodiversity at this extreme depth.
Professor Jamieson’s Insight into Bigfin Squid
Professor Alan Jamieson, the leader of the Tonga Trench Expedition, is no stranger to bigfin squid.
He previously encountered the species in the Philippine Trench, and his research has contributed greatly to our understanding of these deep-sea giants. His work continues to shed light on this creature that loves the dark.
What This Discovery Means for Deep-Sea Research
The sighting of the bigfin squid in the Tonga Trench opens new doors for deep-sea research. As scientists continue to explore the ocean’s hidden depths, each discovery helps us better understand the vast and largely unknown world beneath the waves. The Tonga Trench Expedition 2024 is just one step in unraveling these mysteries.
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