Colossal Squid on Discovery Channel - 11 Jan

Colossal Squid
SUNDAY 11 JANUARY, 7.30PM
New Zealand Television Premiere (1 ep x 60 mins)

The story of the colossal squid that was landed by the New Zealand fishing vessel, the San Aspiring, in the Ross Sea in 2007.

During the few weeks of summer in 2007, Antarctica fisherman caught a colossal squid, the largest ever discovered. This provided the very first opportunity for scientists to study the oceans most elusive predator, by freezing the specimen until they can get to New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa. Getting the Squid there is only part of the journey as they also have the massive task of de-frosting it correctly in order to be able to ultimately study the first in tact sample of a colossal squid! Join the team of specialists as they prepare to undertake the first scientific investigation ever of an adult colossal squid.

The 2007 female colossal squid is the most massive invertebrate ever discovered, weighing in at 495kg. It is 4.2 metres long and holds the record for the world’s largest eye measuring 27cm in diameter. The colossal squid was landed by the New Zealand fishing vessel, the San Aspiring, in the Ross Sea in 2007 and gifted to Te Papa by the Ministry of Fisheries. Stored for a year in a freezer in Te Papa’s Tory St facility, it was defrosted in April 2008 and examined by a team of international scientists.

The only colossal squid exhibit in the world (www.tepapa.govt.nz/squid) opens to the public on Saturday 13 December, proudly supported by the New Zealand Seafood Industry and Alcatel Lucent. The 495 kilogramme, 4.2 metre female colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), the most massive invertebrate ever examined, will be on display at Te Papa for three years. Admission to the exhibit is free.

Discovery Channel, SKY Digital Channel 70

ENDS

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