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Super Rare Deep-Sea Hooked Squid Finally Caught On Camera

Rare deep-sea squid
Screenshot from Rare deep-sea squid with 'headlights' filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

Scientists from the University of Western Australia captured footage of the super rare Deep-Sea Hooked Squid! Read to learn more about these elusive creatures, and check out the images!

The Deep-Sea Hooked Squid

rare deep-sea squid
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

These fascinating cephalopods also known as Onkyia, live in the deep ocean and have been very elusive to humans – until now! The squid was captured at around a depth of 1.6 miles in the Samoan Passage. 

One Of The Largest

rare deep-sea squid
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

Deep-sea hooked squid is one of the largest deep-sea squid species and is known for their large photophores at the end of two of their arms. Which also happens to be the largest photophores in the world! 

What Do Their Photophores Do? 

rare deep-sea squid
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

They use their photophores to produce a bright, bioluminescent light underwater to startle their prey accustomed to the darkness of the deep sea. 

Appearance

rare deep-sea squid
Screenshot from Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

The deep-sea hooked squid has not only glowing photophores on two of its tentacles but also has distinctive hooks on their ends. These hooks are used to capture their prey after they are disorientated by the sudden flashes of light. 

The Realization

rare deep-sea squid
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

The scientists deployed free-fall baited cameras into the ocean known as the Somoan Passage. While looking at the footage they got after retrieving the cameras, the realized that they caught something extremely rare! The Deep-Sea Hooked Squid, scientifically known as Taningia danae!

The Visuals

Rare deep-sea squid
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News

The squid thought the camera was prey, and used its bright “headlights” to shine a light to startle the prey. He proceeded to wrap his arms around the camera, allowing great detail of the elusive animal to be captured. You can watch the video at the end of this article. 

Rare Encounter

Mature female Onykia (Moroteuthis) ingens, 384 mm DML, 1875 grams, TAN1001_100. Image via Darren Stevens, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Deep-sea hooked squids have only ever been recorded from accidental bycatches, in the stomach contents of whales or strandings. Making this live observation of the animal in its natural habitat a feat for science! 

Where Do They Live? 

Image by Deepdisco, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

These elusive squids live in the depths of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They live between 660 and 6,600 feet deep! 

Deep-Sea Hooked Squid Diet

Image via depositphotos

These animals follow a carnivorous diet and eat other cephalopods, fish, and other marine invertebrates. Catching their prey with their hooked tentacles after stunning them with their photophores. 

Hunting

Image via depositphotos

These cephalopods catch their prey through stealth and surprise. They first stun their prey with their bright lights shining from their photophores before using their hooked arms to catch them. They are silent swimmers and spot their prey with their large eyes. 

Size

Mature female Onykia (Moroteuthis) robsoni, 885 DML, 11100 grams, TAN1001_100. Image via Darren Stevens, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The squid captured in the video was about 30 inches long. But these animals can grow up to 6 feet long! Luckily, with their tentacles included. 

Hooked Tentacles

juvenile female Onykia (Moroteuthis) robsoni. Image by Darren Stevens, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What sets these squids apart from others is their unique tentacles! Unlike most squids who have suckers on their tentacles, the hooked squid has, as you could guess, hooked tentacles! These help them capture and hold onto their slippery prey. 

Predators

This image taken by Ryan Somma shows a hypothetical fight in the deep sea between a Giant Squid and a Sperm Whale, as shown by models at a museum. Image by Ryan Somma from Occoquan, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Although their deep-sea habitat protects them from many predators, they are still hunted by larger marine animals. For instance, sperm whales, sharks, and larger fish that roam in their habitat. 

Defense Mechanism

Colorful paint drops in water in slow motion. Dark blue ink paint drops spreading in the water mixing with water looking like a cloud. Image via depositphotos

Like most other squid, the deep sea hooked squid also has an ink sack. They act as a defense mechanism when predators approach them, and by releasing a cloud of ink they have the chance to swim to safety. 

Social Habits

Gonatus fabricii swims by the PISCES V submersible during dive P5-625 New Zealand, Kermadec Arc. Image by New Zealand-American Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 Exploration; NOAA Vents Program, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Most of these squids lead solitary lives and only gather in groups when it is breeding season. 

Reproduction

An isolated close up colorful squid cuttlefish looks like 20.000 leagues under the sea. Image via depositphotos

Like other squids, they reproduce through the male’s transfer of a spermatophore into the female. Females then lay eggs which are left to develop and hatch, with no parental care! 

A Feat For Science

squid
By Betty Wills, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44669283

The incredible footage caught by the team of scientists from Australia might have been a stroke of luck, but the rare glimpse into the life of this rare squid is a feat for science! And, it is incredible to witness just some of what goes on in the mystery called the deep sea.

Check out the footage here!

YouTube video
Rare deep-sea squid with ‘headlights’ filmed by scientists. Source: Youtube, Uploaded: ABS-CBN News