Australia: Ever since its disappearance over a quarter century ago, the oceanic giant squid has been the stuff of myths and legends. Now, researchers in Australia have rediscovered the giant squid, after 25 years.
Meet the Giant Squid: The Elusive Mollusc
Also known as ‘Monsters of the Deep’, the giant squid is one of the most elusive marine animals. It often lives in the depths of the ocean and is known for its large eyes, which are around the size of a basketball. It generally ranges from 10 to 13 metres in depth.
Causes for the Disappearance of Giant Squid
There are multiple reasons that can be attributed to the disappearance of the giant squid. The molluscs prefer to live in the ‘twilight zone’ of the ocean (deep sea waters where humans rarely venture out or venture).
While other contributing factors include lack of advanced detection technology, elusive temperaments and oceanographic changes like shifting currents. It also doesn’t help that giant squids often spread out across big expanses of the ocean.
What Explorers Found
The team of explorers, from the Western Australian museum and Curtin University, found giant squid DNA in the Cape Range canyons and Cloates Canyons. “Finding evidence of a giant squid really captures people’s imagination, but it’s just one part of a much bigger picture,”, Dr. Georgia Nester, one of the expedition leads said.
Dr. Nester also shared that the squid DNA was found through eDNA metabarcoding, a novel technology wherein scientists can use DNA left behind to discover animals. Animals have a tendency to leave behind traces of DNA through mucus, skin and faeces.
They discovered multiple oceanic species that hadn’t been found in the waters of Western Australia before including the sleeper shark (Somniosus sp.), faceless cusk eel (Typhlonus nasus), and slender snaggletooth (Rhadinesthes decimus).
All in all, the expedition team found 226 species across 11 major animal group, in addition to the squid DNA. And from the 226 species, 83 were new.
Significance of The Findings
The new findings are significant as they have exposed scientists to a whole new marine ecosystem from oceanic submarine canyons. They have revealed the existence of new species, which were previously undiscovered.
The findings have also confirmed that despite long periods of disappearance, the giant squid continues to thrive. It’s also important to note that the giant squid DNA was found in the northernmost point of the eastern Indian ocean, a place where previous such samples of this species hadn’t been found before.
What Lies Ahead
The discoveries in the Western Australian waters are not only marvelous but also insightful. They serve as scientific milestones. And these milestones indicate that there is a still lot we don’t know about oceanic species and ecosystems.
Disclaimer: The information taken in this article is sourced from the public domain. The Sunday Guardian won’t be responsible for any discrepancies.
