Shoutbox

GIANT SQUID PHOTOGRAPHED
A mythical monster of the deep has for the first time been observed and photographed in its wild habitat.

Japanese researchers captured images of a 26ft giant deep sea squid attacking bait at a depth of almost 3,000 feet.

The creature became snagged on a hook and in its struggle to get away, left behind one of its 16ft-long tentacles.

The giant squid, Architeuthis, is the stuff of sea legend.

For hundreds of years, mariners have told tales of ships being attacked by the creatures and of their epic battles with sperm whales.

But in reality little is known about the elusive animals, which spend most of their time far below the ocean surface.

In the past century, only about 50 specimens, or their body parts, have been recovered, either washed up on beaches or caught on fishing lines.

Despite repeated attempts, no-one until now has managed to see a giant squid swimming in its natural environment.

The Japanese scientists tracked the movement of sperm whales to find a likely location for giant squid.