Evidence of giant squid spotted off Australia in historic find
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- Australian scientists detected environmental DNA (eDNA) evidence of a giant squid off Western Australia's Nyinggulu coast, marking the first record of the species in the area in over 25 years.
- The giant squid, known for its massive size of up to 43 feet and the largest eyes on Earth, is rarely seen due to its deep ocean habitat in the twilight zone at depths up to 2,000 feet.
- The discovery was part of a broader biodiversity survey by the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which collected over 1,000 samples and identified 226 species, including some never before recorded in Western Australian waters.
- Despite its elusive nature, live giant squids have been filmed only a few times since 2004, while the colossal squid remains the largest invertebrate, with a juvenile filmed in its natural habitat near the Sandwich Islands in 2025.
- Researchers emphasize the vast, largely unexplored deep-sea biodiversity, highlighting the importance of ongoing studies to uncover new species and better understand ocean ecosystems.
