Giant Squid: Captured on Camera for the First Time in US Waters
Summary
In this article, we discuss the recent discovery of a giant squid in US waters, captured on camera for the second time ever. The use of an optical lure called the electronic jellyfish, developed by Dr. Edith Witte, helped scientists understand that the giant squid is an active visual predator. The team’s discovery was an exciting and memorable experience, and sheds light on the mysterious creature that has eluded scientists for years.
Table of Contents
- The Use of the Electronic Jellyfish
- A Memorable Experience
- Why We Haven’t Seen Many Giant Squids Alive
- Unique Features of the Giant Squid
The Use of the Electronic Jellyfish
For years, the giant squid has been a mysterious creature that has eluded scientists. The primary way of studying it has been through dead specimens that have washed ashore or been caught in nets. However, for the second time ever and the first time in US waters, researchers have captured a giant squid on camera. Dr. Edith Witte, one of the expedition’s leaders, developed an optical lure called the electronic jellyfish or e-jelly, which imitates certain bioluminescent displays that might attract large predators. The e-jelly has blue LEDs embedded in epoxy that imitates the display of a jellyfish that produces a pinwheel of light when caught in the clutches of a predator. This optical lure helped scientists understand that the giant squid is an active visual predator that tracks and attacks its prey.
A Memorable Experience
The discovery of the giant squid was an exciting and memorable experience for the team. A group of individuals on a ship witnessed a giant squid attacking e-jelly in a lab. They confirmed it was a giant squid, but the internet was down due to a storm, so they couldn’t immediately share the news. The ship was hit by lightning, but luckily their laptop with the squid video was unharmed. Once they had internet access, they sent the video to a scientist at the Smithsonian, who confirmed it was a juvenile giant squid.
Why We Haven’t Seen Many Giant Squids Alive
The reason we haven’t seen many giant squids alive in the wild is because we have explored very little of the open ocean, which makes up more than 99.9% of the biosphere. This lack of exploration makes it difficult to study and understand the giant squid’s behavior and habitat.
Unique Features of the Giant Squid
The giant squid is an exciting creature with unique features such as a beak that can rip flesh, eyes the size of dinner plates, and three hearts that can pump blue blood. Despite these fascinating characteristics, much about the giant squid remains a mystery. The recent discovery of a giant squid in US waters captured on camera provides valuable insight into the elusive and mysterious creature.
Conclusion
The recent discovery of a giant squid in US waters captured on camera for the second time ever is an exciting development in the study of the elusive and mysterious creature. Dr. Edith Witte’s optical lure, the electronic jellyfish, helped scientists understand that the giant squid is an active visual predator that tracks and attacks its prey. The team’s discovery was an exciting and memorable experience, shedding light on the giant squid’s behavior and habitat.
