Is this a photo of a dying Humboldt? I remember it was circulating round the media about 2 or 3 years ago. If this is a Humboldt then :goofysca: I'll have to remember that next time I'm snorkling... wouldn't want one of these guys coming up and tickling my feet!

Graeme

My oh my, that's Architeuthis, my friend! Caught near Kyoto and dragged towards a bitter tidepool end (http://www.pref.kyoto.jp/kaiyo/2-topicnews/news/2002/02-02-01/mega-squid/mega-squid-02.html)...

"The Eye" haunted many a Tonmo'er for nights on end, I well remember :shock:

No Graeme, that is Architeuthis, not Dosidicus. That specimen has a long story attached to it, you can read all about it in this thread:

http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1308&highlight=architeuthis

Clem discovered the picture and it caused quite a stir in late 2003.

Oh, beat me to it Ob!

Touché :smile:

On a side note, wasn't there speculation of the eye manipulated by Photoshop or some other program of that sort?

Say, come to think of it, wasn't Steve's distinguished guest Dr Ku rumored to have more information about this animal? Could he perhaps be asked if he'd be willing to further clarify the occasion, and perhaps whether there is a version of the pic that doesn't have the eye doctored in photoshop?

In answer to Chrono's post: I personally don't think so, but there are fellow rivet counters amongst us who will claim to have noticed suspect pixelation around the eye. The musculature looks fine to me and there's nothing in the textbooks speaking against reflection in A. dux's retina as a natural photoenhancer for an animal which lives under sparse lighting conditions...

In answer to Chrono's post: I personally don't think so, but there are fellow rivet counters amongst us who will claim to have noticed suspect pixelation around the eye. The musculature looks fine to me and there's nothing in the textbooks speaking against reflection in A. dux's retina as a natural photoenhancer for an animal which lives under sparse lighting conditions...

I found Matt's analysis pretty compelling:

http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showpost.php?p=29058&postcount=122

All this means, though, is that someone did something to the photo-- it may not have substantively changed the picture. Perhaps they just thought there was some sort of bad reflection, or maybe they just thought they could enhance the contrast or something.

That eye is still freakin me out :cyclops:

That old thread was where Steve said "live ammonites" were about to be discovered. 8-)

Oh, I did originally think it was an archie, but I was told otherwise. I was always under the impression that no one had seen a live archie, even dying. Hoo well.:grin:

Graeme

Graeme, leave your rock now! See Phil's avatar, wonder in astonishment...

rock?? Phils Avatar? issat the video sequence? I thought there was dispute about that?

Graeme

Hello Graeme,

These people who've been telling you otherwise, are they by any chance would-be Archie hunters who just can't get over getting their ***es whupped?

I wasn't aware that there was any disupte about Kubodera and Mori's photographs (it wasn't a true video). There's been some animated discussion about the fact that the squid lost a tentacle in the encounter, and about what the photos may reveal about Archie's general demeanour, i.e. active hunter vs. pasive feeder, but there's no disputing that it was Architeuthis.

I hope that you will bring all of this to the attention of your ill-informed peers, and make them cry.

Cheers,
Clem

If I remember rightly the Architeuthis caught at Kyoto went on display at the National Science Museum in Tokyo so there is absolutely no doubt as to its identity.

It is interesting to compare the shape of the eye with these two images, the first, in the boat, is allegedly Architeuthis. The one in the water is apparantly not Architeuthis, but is still a large and powerful squid. In case anyone is curious, I'm afraid I don't have the rest of the photo, and I don't know what type of squid it is. :sad:

I think the thing that bothers me most about all these eyes :cyclops: is that I expect the oval/football shape of the eye to be 90 degrees to what it is in the photo. I guess I am so used to seeing an eye with an eyelid like a whale that it freaks me out when it is different... Thanks for the nightmares Phil..

Now that I think about it, I am thinking that the squid is swimming parallel to the ocean floor (or ocean surface). But if the squid is hanging down or at an angle, then the eyelid would be in the right position. Is this making any sense???

Yes, it does make sense (to me anyway). You crack me up Cuttlegirl....thanks for the nightmares - LOL! The eyes are a bit creepy.

I guess the question is, would a dead squid have such a pristine eyeball? That's what got me. Any thoughts?

I think it would be creepy if they could wink....yup, that would be creepy...looking over the side of a boat and seeing this huge eye that winks at you....pleasant dreams!:grin:

That is, if they had eyelids...do they have eyelids? Wow, need to get better at my anatomy.

And Graeme, there is a list somewhere, I think the Smithsonian website...I'll have to go check for it..that has all the Archi sightings listed, even from a long time ago and there are several accounts of "live" Archi's being found but then used as bait.:sad:

Ok, found it....but it's kind of long.....
Enjoy:smile:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/cephs/archirec.pdf

Only 132 pages... :shock: really interesting reference, though. The first Archi found alive was 1872!

My favorite entry...
Date found: 1981/February
Location: Hawaiian Islands, Oahu, Kanehoe Bay
Method of capture: Hook and line.
Measurements: WL (total length) ?20 ft.
Miscellaneous: Taken alive, while trolling...attacked by a false killer whale during retrieval

Can you imagine???
:boat::sink: :goofysca:

Yeah, can't help but notice how many are from Newfoundland:grin: Main reason why I moved here!

That brings up an interesting question-- if archie is one species with a world wide distribution why do the carcasses seem to cluster in certain areas? Is it a factor of post breeding mortality (with several localised breeding sites) or what?

Around here, I beleive someone told me that it has something to do with the water getting cold on the shelf and they get caught there before they can make it do the deeper water....not sure though....I could be totally wrong

Originally posted by bathypol
That is, if they had eyelids...do they have eyelids? Wow, need to get better at my anatomy.


I don't know about Archi, but cuttlefish have eyelids...

wow, did not know that

See this...

I always thought it was the shape of their pupals...silly me :oops:

Bathypol, maybe you are right...:oops:

From Righty's article
http://www.tonmo.com/cephcare/cuttlefish.php

Cuttlefish have amazing eyesight having 'w' shaped pupils which, according to cephalopod specialist Mark Norman "when closed, forms two separate pupil openings."

I'm afraid I don't have the rest of the photo, and I don't know what type of squid it is. :sad:
One day, Phil woke up and said, "It's time to vex TONMO, again."

One day, Phil woke up and said, "It's time to vex TONMO, again."

Oh OK then, full image attached as requested.

Seriously, I'd like to hear the full background to those photos as Steve posted them over a year ago hinting that they were very exciting, but I don't think we had any follow up.
:sad:

What is this, make your own squid?? :cyclops:

In regards to the eye being allegedly tampered with in Photoshop, as an artist I know all too well that sometimes things in real life look fake. I get it from time to time when I draw something from a photo and someone points out how something doesn't look right, then I show them the photo where it looks exactly the same.

Not saying it's impossible that it was fudged, but my first impression is that it's not.

On a side note, wasn't there speculation of the eye manipulated by Photoshop or some other program of that sort?

I can confirm there's been no manipulation of that eye/image; this is the real thing.

Oh OK then, full image attached as requested.
LOL

I think that this image has been broadcast as part of a doco recently ... but I lent my copy to someone, who lent it to someone else, who on-lent it, then that was lent on, on lent, lented further and has now lented itself into oblivion. I'd have to post it in Supporters .... but I shouldn't, because it's not mine to post (I should ask the chappy who sent it to me if I can post it online; it was a grab from a high definition video sequence). Phil, your rendition is remarkably accurate ...

Is it just me or does that eye creep yall out too?


Guess I'm just programmed to expect squid with round eyes.

Is it just me or does that eye creep yall out too?


Guess I'm just programmed to expect squid with round eyes.

Maybe if you drew some long luscious lashes on it that would help you sleep better?

That has too many implications there Toren...:shock:

:jester:

Graeme

Oh OK then, full image attached as requested
:shock:

I'm sorry, Phil. I didn't know the pics had already been posted and discussed.

Whatever it is, it looks...warty. The semi-dreaded Kondakovia?

Cheers,
Clem

Hmmmm, could be, the eyes are right, and it certainly isn't Onykia robsoni, by the looks of its fins, but it appears too stocky. Here's two pics for reference...

The mystery squid from the video stills looks like it's pining for the fjords when judged by the eye alone, but the fins do give off the impression of undulation...

Ob, where did you find these picture identified as robsoni? I've always seen it called Kondakovia longimana, and frankly, I'd be suspicious of either ID.