Mysterious Deep-sea Hooked Squid, Largest Of Its Kind, Attacks Camera. Rare Footage Viral

In a lucky breakthrough, scientists from Australia and the UK managed to capture on camera the exact moment the rarely spotted deep-sea hooked squid--one of the largest deep-water cephalopods in the world--attacked the camera which was recording its movement. The footage, also rare, is something to be seen. Here's what went on.

Who captured the rare moment on camera?

The deep-sea hooked squid (scientific name Taningia danae) is a fascinating cephalopod | Image: CNN

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The unique footage showing the deep-sea hooked squid (scientific name Taningia danae) in action was captured by scientists at the University of Western Australia and Kelpie Geosciences in the UK. 

The camera descended 58 metres per minute making its way to the sea floor, when much to everyone's shock, the almost three-metre-long swam in from nowhere.

The international research team was led by Associate Professor Heather Stewart from Kelpie Geosciences UK and an adjunct at The University of Western Australia, who collaborated with researchers from the Minderoo-UWA Deep Sea Research Centre. 

What makes the deep-sea hooked squid's appearance on camera so unique?

The footage was captured by scientists at the University of Western Australia and Kelpie Geosciences in the UK | Image: CNN

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Did you know this species--typically found at depths ranging from 200 to 2,000 metres--can grow an impressive 1.7 metres in length? They move in water uninhibited at these depths and have been found in deep waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean. They belong to the family Octopoteuthidae and there's not much known about their behaviour, habits and ecology because spotting them in their natural habitat remains a challenge.

That's not the only unique thing about this mysterious deep-sea creature. The giant squid has two bioluminescent organs, called photophores, which, as the name suggests, produce bright flashes of light to communicate, attract prey and fend off predators.

Watch the rare footage below

Video courtesy: CNN

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