A large finned squid, also known as the Magnapinna squid, is believed to be the deepest living squid in the ocean. It was recently captured on film by the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Center and Inkfish in the second deepest trench in the world.
The video shows the squid, which has exceptionally long tentacles, approaching the camera with a fish bait attached, before quickly swimming away from the area.
This footage was recorded during the 2024 Tonga Trench expedition, utilizing submersible vessels to study the Tonga Trench, the second deepest trench in the world after the Mariana Trench.
The finned squid is characterized by its slender tentacles, which can reach up to 8 meters in length. Its pinkish-red body and nearly transparent skin, along with its dark purple eyes, give it an alien-like appearance.
Image of the squid with 8m long tentacles found in the Tonga Trench.
This is the first known squid species found at the deepest point of the ocean, residing at a depth of 6,000 meters from the sea surface.
The research community has encountered this creature only about 20 times during oceanographic studies over the past two decades. Therefore, the life cycle of the finned squid remains a mystery in marine biology.
