Rare giant squid found in western Australia
Yahoo • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists have detected evidence of a giant squid in waters off western Australia for the first time in over 25 years, based on environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis from a 2026 deep-sea expedition near the Ningaloo coast.
- The study, published in the journal Environmental DNA, analyzed 178 water samples from five depths in the eastern Indian Ocean, identifying genetic material from 226 species across 126 families, including the elusive giant squid.
- In addition to the squid, researchers recorded 83 new species or range extensions for the region, such as the sleeper shark and faceless cusk eel, both newly documented in western Australian waters.
- Giant squids can reach extraordinary sizes, with the largest recorded specimen measuring about 43 feet; the first confirmed footage of a live giant squid in its natural habitat was captured in 2012, with previous finds mainly being dead or dying specimens.