Jump to content

The Kraken?


Lady Alyx

Recommended Posts

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Fisherman Catches Rare Colossal Squid Off Antarctic Coast

Thursday , February 22, 2007

AP

WELLINGTON, New Zealand —

A New Zealand fishing crew has caught an adult colossal squid, a sea creature with eyes as big as dinner plates and razor-sharp hooks on its tentacles, an official said Thursday.

0_61_022207_giant_squid.jpg

1_62_022107_squid1.jpg

New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said the squid, weighing an estimated 990 pounds, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters.

The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," he said.

Colossal squid, known by the scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, are estimated to grow up to 46 feet long and have long been one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep ocean.

Experts have not yet examined the squid, but if original estimates are correct it is about 330 pounds heavier than the next biggest specimen ever found.

The first specimen of a colossal squid, a 330-pound immature female, was caught on the surface in the Ross Sea near the Antarctic coast in April 2004.

Steve O'Shea, a squid expert at the Auckland University of Technology, said the latest specimen eclipsed that find and scientists would be very excited.

"I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing," he said.

If calamari rings were made from the squid they would be the size of tractor tires, he added.

The animal can move through the water to a depth of 6,500 feet and is extremely active and an aggressive killer, he said.

The frozen squid is to be transported to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa, in the capital, Wellington, to be preserved for scientific study.

Marine scientists "will be very interested in this amazing creature as it adds immeasurably to our understanding of the marine environment," Anderton said.

Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid (Architeuthis species) found around the coast of New Zealand. Giant squid grow up to 39 feet, but are not as heavy.

Yo ho ho! Or does nobody actually say that?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

WOW thanks for adding that to this thread..wowie...sure is interesting...that is exactly how legends get started! I am sure 500 years or so ago..perhaps there where bigger ones in the sea that came up for feeding...especially if the ships lanterns may have attacted them? I guess I am taking the spin off on the lantern fish that attracts fish by it's little lanterns.

angler%20fish.jpg

~~~~Sailing Westward Bound~~~~

Lady Alyx

bateau-sailor-jerry-tatouage.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's not the Kraken.

It is Cthulhu. He who lies dead in Ryleh dreaming. Soon he will return!

Ia Ftaghn!

"Yo Ho, all together

hoist the colours high

Heave Ho, theives and beggers

Never shall we die..."

blackwood.jpg

"I don't care who ye say you are lad, if ye say 'savvy' one more time, I'll bury this cutlass in that thick skull

of yers!"

-Captain John Young - PILF

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Per'aps me home port be Innsmouth and i be of the Marsh family...

Think Davy Jones but bigger, nastier, and hungrier.

"Yo Ho, all together

hoist the colours high

Heave Ho, theives and beggers

Never shall we die..."

blackwood.jpg

"I don't care who ye say you are lad, if ye say 'savvy' one more time, I'll bury this cutlass in that thick skull

of yers!"

-Captain John Young - PILF

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
It is Cthulhu. He who lies dead in Ryleh dreaming. Soon he will return!

Ia Ftaghn!

I'm with ya! I had a guy ask me if I had ever heard of Cthulhu... I asked him if he had heard of Robert E. Howard. He just looked at me blankly.

*sigh* Good reference tho! :lol:

NOAH: Wow... the whole world flooded in just less than a month, and us the only survivors! Hey... is that another... do you see another boat out there? Wait a minute... is that a... that's... are you seeing a skull and crossbones on that flag?

Ministry of Petty Offenses

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Robert E Howard? I know him well. Creator of Kull, Conan, and Soloman Kane... contemporary of HP Lovecraft. Mmmm... he wrote some good twisted stuff.

"Yo Ho, all together

hoist the colours high

Heave Ho, theives and beggers

Never shall we die..."

blackwood.jpg

"I don't care who ye say you are lad, if ye say 'savvy' one more time, I'll bury this cutlass in that thick skull

of yers!"

-Captain John Young - PILF

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...
&ev=PageView&cd%5Bitem_id%5D=9639&cd%5Bitem_name%5D=The+Kraken%3F&cd%5Bitem_type%5D=topic&cd%5Bcategory_name%5D=Pyrate Pop"/>