AndrewA Posted April 28, 2008 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 82 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 469 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/31/2006 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/21/1967 Share Posted April 28, 2008 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7367774.stm Technicians in New Zealand have begun to thaw a rare colossal squid specimen. The operation to defrost the 10-metre (34 feet) long, half-tonne squid began on Monday afternoon in Wellington following a postponement of 24 hours. The animal is now sitting in a bath of salt water. Once it is thawed, scientists will begin to dissect it. Very little is known about colossal squid, which appear to live largely in the cold Antarctic waters and can grow up to 15 metres (50 feet) long. "They're incredibly rare - this is probably one of maybe six specimens ever brought up," said Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa centre. "It's certainly the one that we're being really careful about, completely intact and in really fantastic condition." The Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni specimen was caught in February 2007 in the Ross Sea. Big unknown The colossal squid is remarkable for its size, but also for how rarely it has been sighted. It was identified first in 1925 from two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach. These deep-diving toothed whales regularly do battle with Mesonychoteuthis and other giant cephalopods such as the giant squid of the Architeuthis genus. Since 1925, only a few Mesonychoteuthis have been sighted, all in the seas around Antarctica. Very little is known about how and where they live. The one certainty is that they are fearsome opponents, with big beaks and unique swivelling hooks on the club-like ends of their tentacles. One of the first tasks is likely to be ascertaining the squid's gender. This one is believed to be male; and females are thought to grow larger than males. So if this one is a he, presumably there are even bigger and heavier shes somewhere in the cold Antarctic waters. The Te Papa scientists are also defrosting a smaller, damaged colossal squid specimen, and two giant squid. The defrosting and dissection are being shown in a live webcast. Later in the week, scientists are expected to give public lectures about their initial results. Once thawed and examined, the squid will be embalmed and preserved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nebula Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 10 Topic Count: 5,823 Topics Per Day: 0.76 Content Count: 45,870 Content Per Day: 5.95 Reputation: 1,897 Days Won: 83 Joined: 03/22/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 11/19/1970 Share Posted April 29, 2008 Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladypeartree Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 37 Topic Count: 539 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 32,790 Content Per Day: 5.03 Reputation: 23,471 Days Won: 223 Joined: 06/21/2006 Status: Offline Birthday: 02/23/1953 Share Posted April 29, 2008 wot ?? not turned into sea food dishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthitjah Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 1,285 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 17,917 Content Per Day: 2.27 Reputation: 355 Days Won: 19 Joined: 10/01/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted April 29, 2008 YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Grilled Calamari with a Balsamic reduction on a bed of fresh greens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 827 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 12,101 Content Per Day: 1.50 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 04/01/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted April 29, 2008 YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Grilled Calamari with a Balsamic reduction on a bed of fresh greens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odditblue Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 25 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 220 Content Per Day: 0.04 Reputation: 2 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/15/2008 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/28/1966 Share Posted April 29, 2008 That would sure make a lot of bait to go fishing with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthitjah Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 1,285 Topics Per Day: 0.16 Content Count: 17,917 Content Per Day: 2.27 Reputation: 355 Days Won: 19 Joined: 10/01/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted April 29, 2008 YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Grilled Calamari with a Balsamic reduction on a bed of fresh greens. Were just gonna have to have you come up to MD for a whole mess of Seafood sister. We have the best CrabCakes in the world right here. I'll personally Season and Grill up your Squid the right way. You'll get only the tenderest Tentacles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubba4J Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 155 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 6,075 Content Per Day: 0.94 Reputation: 471 Days Won: 3 Joined: 08/05/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted April 29, 2008 Were just gonna have to have you come up to MD for a whole mess of Seafood sister. We have the best CrabCakes in the world right here. AMEN brother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traveller Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 827 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 12,101 Content Per Day: 1.50 Reputation: 249 Days Won: 3 Joined: 04/01/2002 Status: Offline Share Posted April 29, 2008 YUUUUMMMMMMMMMM! Grilled Calamari with a Balsamic reduction on a bed of fresh greens. I'll personally Season and Grill up your Squid the right way. You'll get only the tenderest Tentacles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewA Posted April 29, 2008 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 82 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 469 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/31/2006 Status: Offline Birthday: 09/21/1967 Author Share Posted April 29, 2008 you can watch the dissection live from these webcams http://www.r2.co.nz/20080427/ Here is a blog explaining what will be going on etc. http://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/category/colossal-squid/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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