Overview

• The colossal squid, Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, was filmed alive in its natural habitat for the first time since its discovery in 1925.
• The footage, captured on March 9, 2025, during a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition, was validated by independent experts on April 15, 2025.
• The juvenile squid, measuring 30 centimeters, was observed at a depth of 600 meters in the Southern Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands.
• Researchers identified the specimen by its distinctive arm hooks, a unique feature of the colossal squid, which can grow up to 7 meters and 500 kilograms as adults.
• Future expeditions are being planned with enhanced camera systems to capture footage of adult colossal squid in their deep-sea environment.