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Why Known Giants Still Surprise US

The colossal squid was already real before live footage, but its living appearance and behaviour remained largely hidden.

On this page

  • Specimens before living footage
  • What juvenile footage adds
  • Why rare video is not instant monster proof
Preview for Why Known Giants Still Surprise US

Introduction

The colossal squid occupies an unusual place in discussions about hidden ocean life. Unlike many cryptozoological claims, it was never hypothetical. Scientists formally described Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni in 1925, collected specimens over decades, and studied body parts recovered from fishing operations and predator stomachs. Yet for a century, nobody had obtained confirmed footage of a living colossal squid in its natural habitat. That gap matters because it shows how an animal can be scientifically real while remaining visually and behaviourally mysterious. The first confirmed live footage in 2025 did not prove the existence of a monster. Instead, it revealed how limited human knowledge can be even when a species is already accepted by science.[Schmidt Ocean Institute]schmidtocean.orgfirst colossal squid footageSchmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…Colossal Squid illustration 1

Specimens Came First, Observation Came Much Later

Colossal Squid, 1st Live Observation | Searching for New Species in the South Sandwich Islands

Channel: Schmidt Ocean Institute

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What the 2025 Juvenile Footage Actually Added

In March 2025, researchers aboard the research vessel Falkor (too) recorded a juvenile colossal squid near the South Sandwich Islands using the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian. The animal was about 30 centimetres long and swimming at roughly 600 metres depth. Experts later confirmed the identification, making it the first verified footage of a living colossal squid in its natural environment.[Schmidt Ocean Institute+2ScienceDaily]schmidtocean.orgfirst colossal squid footageSchmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…

At first glance, the discovery seemed paradoxical. After a century of anticipation, the historic sighting was not a gigantic adult but a translucent juvenile. Yet that is precisely why the footage was scientifically valuable. It showed features difficult to reconstruct from damaged specimens, including body transparency, eye appearance and the animal’s overall form in life. Researchers also observed characteristics associated with colour-changing cells and confirmed details of its anatomy under natural conditions.[Scientific American+2Business Insider]scientificamerican.coma colossal squid has been filmed in the deep sea for the first timeScientific AmericanThis Is the First Colossal Squid Filmed in the Deep Sea—…15 Apr 2025 — A colossal squid was filmed for the first ti…

The footage additionally highlighted how the species changes through life. Juvenile colossal squid appear much more transparent than adults, a trait common among many deep-sea organisms. Without direct observation, such developmental transitions can remain poorly understood even in well-known species.[ABC News]abc.net.aufirst time colossal squid filmed natural habitatABC NewsColossal squid filmed in deep-sea natural habitat for the…16 Apr 2025 — The juvenile was spotted about 600 metres below the oc…

Perhaps the most important contribution was psychological rather than anatomical. The video transformed the colossal squid from a creature known mostly through carcasses into a living animal occupying a real ecological setting. That shift is significant because behaviour and habitat often generate entirely new scientific questions.[Schmidt Ocean Institute+2Nekton]schmidtocean.orgfirst colossal squid footageSchmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…Colossal Squid illustration 2

Why a Giant Can Remain So Poorly Seen

To many people, it seems counterintuitive that one of the largest squid species on Earth could avoid direct observation for so long. Size alone, however, does not guarantee visibility.

Several factors work against frequent encounters:

  • The species inhabits remote Southern Ocean environments that are expensive and difficult to study.[Schmidt Ocean Institute]schmidtocean.orgfirst colossal squid footageSchmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…

Scientists Finally Found a Colossal Squid Deep in the Ocean

Channel: Astrum Earth

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Why Rare Video Is Not Instant Monster Proof

Within cryptozoology, discoveries such as the colossal squid are sometimes cited as evidence that reports of unknown giant creatures should be taken at face value. The actual lesson is more nuanced.

The colossal squid became accepted because evidence accumulated through multiple independent channels: anatomical specimens, formal taxonomic description, ecological context, repeated recovery of remains and eventually direct footage. The 2025 video was persuasive precisely because it fit an existing body of evidence rather than standing alone.[Natural History Museum]nhm.ac.ukgiant and colossal squid revealing secrets largest invertebratesNatural History MuseumGiant and colossal squid: revealing the secrets of…8 Mar 2022 — The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) and the colos…

A blurry or isolated image of an unknown animal does not automatically reach the same standard. In fact, the colossal squid demonstrates the opposite principle. Even after a century of scientific acceptance, researchers were careful when identifying the filmed animal and relied on specialists familiar with glass squids and related species before announcing confirmation.[Smithsonian Magazine+2ABC News]smithsonianmag.comSmithsonian MagazineCheck Out the First Confirmed Footage of the Colossal…Apr 16, 2025 — Scientists captured the video on March 9 whil…

This distinction is important. Rare footage can be valuable evidence, but its strength depends on context, corroboration and expert analysis. The colossal squid did not move from myth to reality because of one dramatic video. It moved from partially understood reality to better understood reality because the video joined a century of prior evidence.[Schmidt Ocean Institute]schmidtocean.orgfirst colossal squid footageSchmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…Colossal Squid illustration 3

What the Case Reveals About the Unknown Ocean

Scientists spot live colossal squid for the first time in South Sandwich Islands

Channel: New York Post

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        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article><article class="fr-book-card"><a class="fr-book-cover" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Squid+Empire+by+Danna+Staaf&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Open Squid Empire on Amazon"><span class="fr-book-cover-fallback">Book</span><img class="fr-book-cover-thumb" src="https://books.google.com/books/content?id=udIwDwAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;img=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;edge=curl&amp;source=gbs_api" alt="Cover for Squid Empire" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" onerror="this.hidden=true;this.closest('.fr-book-cover').classList.add('fr-book-cover-placeholder');"></a><div class="fr-book-info"><h4 class="fr-book-title"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Squid+Empire+by+Danna+Staaf&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" title="Squid Empire">Squid Empire</a></h4><p class="fr-book-author">By Danna Staaf</p><p class="fr-book-desc">Explains squid biology and why observation often lags behind discovery.</p><div class="fr-book-actions"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Squid+Empire+by+Danna+Staaf&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" class="fr-amazon-btn" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">
        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article><article class="fr-book-card"><a class="fr-book-cover" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Other+Minds+by+Peter+Godfrey-Smith&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Open Other Minds on Amazon"><span class="fr-book-cover-fallback">Book</span><img class="fr-book-cover-thumb" src="https://books.google.com/books/content?id=CRNmDQAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;img=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;source=gbs_api" alt="Cover for Other Minds" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" onerror="this.hidden=true;this.closest('.fr-book-cover').classList.add('fr-book-cover-placeholder');"></a><div class="fr-book-info"><h4 class="fr-book-title"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Other+Minds+by+Peter+Godfrey-Smith&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" title="Other Minds">Other Minds</a></h4><p class="fr-book-author">By Peter Godfrey-Smith</p><p class="fr-book-desc">Provides insight into the lives of intelligent marine invertebrates.</p><div class="fr-book-actions"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Other+Minds+by+Peter+Godfrey-Smith&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" class="fr-amazon-btn" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">
        See on Amazon</a></div></div></article><article class="fr-book-card"><a class="fr-book-cover" href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Deep+by+Claire+Nouvian&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Open The Deep on Amazon"><span class="fr-book-cover-fallback">Book</span><img class="fr-book-cover-thumb" src="https://books.google.com/books/content?id=uSEVAQAAIAAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;img=1&amp;zoom=1&amp;source=gbs_api" alt="Cover for The Deep" loading="lazy" decoding="async" fetchpriority="low" referrerpolicy="no-referrer" onerror="this.hidden=true;this.closest('.fr-book-cover').classList.add('fr-book-cover-placeholder');"></a><div class="fr-book-info"><h4 class="fr-book-title"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Deep+by+Claire+Nouvian&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer" title="The Deep">The Deep</a></h4><p class="fr-book-author">By Claire Nouvian</p><p class="fr-book-desc">Illustrates the poorly observed environment where colossal squid live.</p><div class="fr-book-actions"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Deep+by+Claire+Nouvian&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;tag=searcht-20" class="fr-amazon-btn" target="_blank" rel="sponsored noopener noreferrer">
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Endnotes

1. Source: schmidtocean.org
Title: first colossal squid footage
Link:https://schmidtocean.org/first-colossal-squid-footage/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Schmidt Ocean InstituteFirst Confirmed Footage of a Colossal Squid—and it's…15 Apr 2025 — The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one…</p>

2. Source: nhm.ac.uk
Title: giant and colossal squid revealing secrets largest invertebrates
Link:https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/giant-and-colossal-squid-revealing-secrets-largest-invertebrates.html

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Natural History MuseumGiant and colossal squid: revealing the secrets of…8 Mar 2022 — The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) and the colos…</p>

3. Source: thetimes.co.uk
Title: The Times These mythical monsters are mighty real
Link:https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-mythical-monster-thats-mighty-real-6qfggbswt

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Though the specimen was small, this species can grow up to 23 feet long and weigh up to 500 kg, making it the heaviest invertebrate on Ea…</p>

4. Source: sciencedaily.com
Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250416152119.htm

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>First confirmed footage of a colossal squid – and it's a baby!The 30-centimeter juvenile squid (nearly one foot long) was captured on vi…</p>

5. Source: scientificamerican.com
Title: a colossal squid has been filmed in the deep sea for the first time
Link:https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-colossal-squid-has-been-filmed-in-the-deep-sea-for-the-first-time/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Scientific AmericanThis Is the First Colossal Squid Filmed in the Deep Sea—…15 Apr 2025 — A colossal squid was filmed for the first ti…</p>

6. Source: businessinsider.com
Link:https://www.businessinsider.com/colossal-squid-baby-first-footage-in-deep-sea

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>It's a baby.Scientists have captured the first-ever footage of a live colossal squid in its natural deep-sea habitat near the South Sandw…</p>

7. Source: abc.net.au
Title: first time colossal squid filmed natural habitat
Link:https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2025-04-17/first-time-colossal-squid-filmed-natural-habitat/105185924

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>ABC NewsColossal squid filmed in deep-sea natural habitat for the…16 Apr 2025 — The juvenile was spotted about 600 metres below the oc…</p>

8. Source: nektonmission.org
Title: Nekton First Footage of Live Juvenile Colossal Squid
Link:https://nektonmission.org/news/first-footage-of-live-juvenile-colossal-squid-filmed-on-the-[ocean-census

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>First Footage of Live Juvenile Colossal Squid - Nekton Mission24 Apr 2025 — The footage, filmed at a depth of 600 metres (1968 feet) near…</p>

9. Source: oceancensus.org
Link:https://oceancensus.org/first-footage-of-live-juvenile-colossal-squid-filmed-on-the-ocean-census-expedition-to-the-south-sandwich-islands/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Ocean CensusFirst Footage of Live Juvenile Colossal Squid15 Apr 2025 — To date, the Schmidt Ocean Institute's ROV SuBastian has captured…</p>

10. Source: smithsonianmag.com
Link:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/check-out-the-first-confirmed-footage-of-the-colossal-squid-a-rare-and-enigmatic-deep-sea-species-180986440/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Smithsonian MagazineCheck Out the First Confirmed Footage of the Colossal…Apr 16, 2025 — Scientists captured the video on March 9 whil…</p>

11. Source: shellmuseum.org
Title: A Living Colossal Squid!
Link:https://shellmuseum.org/blog/a-living-colossal-squid/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>May 2, 2025 — Social media has been abuzz with the recent first-time confirmed observation and filming of a Colossal Squid (Mesonychoteut…</p>
Published: May 2, 2025

12. Source: Wikipedia
Title: Colossal squid
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossal_squid

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Colossal squidThe colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) is a species of very large squid… ↑ "First Confirmed Footage of a Col…</p>

13. Source: abcnews.com
Link:https://abcnews.com/International/colossal-squid-captured-camera-time-scientists/story?id=120882742

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Colossal squid captured on camera for the first time…This is the first confirmed live observation of the colossal squid, Mesonychoteut…</p>

Additional References

14. Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/deeperbluedotcom/posts/-scientists-have-captured-the-first-ever-footage-of-a-juvenile-colossal-squid-in/1229864192129819/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>First footage of juvenile colossal squid in natural habitatScientists have captured the first-ever footage of a juvenile colossal squid i…</p>

15. Source: theguardian.com
Link:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/16/colossal-squid-captured-on-video

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Captured near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, the footage shows an 11.8-inch juvenile Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni…</p>

16. Source: news.sky.com
Link:https://news.sky.com/story/colossal-squid-captured-on-film-in-its-natural-environment-for-first-time-ever-13349837

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>squid captured on film in its natural environment…16 Apr 2025 — Measuring just 30cm long, the juvenile squid was spotted at a depth of…</p>

17. Source: smbasblog.com
Link:https://smbasblog.com/2025/04/16/colossal-squid-filmed-alive-in-deep-ocean-for-the-first-time-ever-discover-wildlife/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Colossal squid filmed alive in deep ocean for the first time ever16 Apr 2025 — Deep sea scientists have filmed a live colossal squid in i…</p>

18. Source: oceanographicmagazine.com
Link:https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/colossal-squid-captured-alive-on-camera-for-first-time-in-100-years/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Colossal squid filmed alive on camera for first time everResearchers have finally - and for the first time in history - captured video fo…</p>

19. Source: localnewsmatters.org
Link:https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/04/16/colossal-discovery-scientists-film-elusive-deep-sea-squid-alive-for-the-first-time/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>Colossal discovery: Scientists film elusive deep-sea squid…16 Apr 2025 — Four scientists, aflutter with discovery, announced that they…</p>

20. Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/1lchzwb/the_colossal_squid_was_not_filmed_for_the_first/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>This one shows a full grown, or at-least a pretty big colossal squid, alive and in the ocean, although whoever posted it labeled it…</p>

21. Source: thekidshouldseethis.com
Title: a young colossal squid filmed alive in its natural habitat for the first time
Link:https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/a-young-colossal-squid-filmed-alive-in-its-natural-habitat-for-the-first-time

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>A young colossal squid, filmed alive in its natural habitat…16 Apr 2025 — This is the first ever deep ocean video of a living colossal…</p>

22. Source: reddit.com
Title: The squid, measuring nearly 30 cm (12 in) was captured on video
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/videos/comments/1k15euq/first_live_footage_of_a_colossal_squid_in_its/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>First Live Footage of a Colossal Squid in its Natural Habitat: r…On 9 March 2025, the first definitive colossal squid was filmed in i…</p>
Published: March 2025

23. Source: australiangeographic.com.au
Title: scientists capture first confirmed footage of a colossal squid
Link:https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2025/05/scientists-capture-first-confirmed-footage-of-a-colossal-squid/

<summary>Source snippet</summary><p>2 May 2025 — An international voyage has captured the first confirmed video of a colossal squid – a 30cm juvenile – in its natural habita…</p>
Published: May 2025

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