Taningia danae has been in the news today, courtesy of our old friend Dr Kubodera. Stunning 2005 footage of the squid attacking bait has just been released which depicts this large squid flashing bioluminescence as it lunges. Please see below for more details:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6357005.stm

Look, they compare its size to a double decker bus! :grin:

I saw this footage last year; it is truly sensational! Hat off to Ku again!!

The amazing footage, or at least sections of, is available to watch on New Scientists website. If your computer can play MOV files you should be able to watch the footage. Here's a link. (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11161-flirty-deepsea-squid-is-fast-aggressive-hunter.html)

Amazing images is right. Thank you, Phil! (Wish I could view the vid.)

Giant squid caught on camera (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.itv.com/news/world_2fe992e9ababedb08aea6fe47e529523.h tml&cid=1113613561&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)
ITV.com, UK - 3 hours ago
The squid was caught attacking bait and emitting short bright light flashes, possibly to attract a mate or to communicate. The elusive creature was taped as ...


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Deep sea giant squid flash blinding light to attack prey (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://www.mercopress.com/vernoticia.do%3Fid%3D9855%26formato%3DHT ML&cid=0&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)
MercoPress, Uruguay - 5 hours ago
Enormous deep-sea squid emit blinding flashes of light as they attack their prey, research shows. Taningia danae`s spectacular light show was revealed in ...


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BBC News (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4i-0&fd=R&url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6357005.stm&cid=1113605757&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)
Giant squid lights up for attack (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6357005.stm&cid=1113605757&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)
BBC News, UK - 10 hours ago
The squid, which can measure over 2m (7ft) in length, deftly swim backwards and forwards by flapping their large, muscular fins. ...
Flirty deep-sea squid is fast, aggressive hunter (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-1&fd=R&url=http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11161-flirty-deepsea-squid-is-fast-aggressive-hunter.html&cid=1113605757&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)
New Scientist (subscription)
all 2 news articles

More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/4-0&fd=R&url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6357005.stm&cid=1113605757&ei=KOvSRdiRF6CcHaqd9EI)

Tani never seems to move backward (normal) always forward, and always fast. 8-) And very cool headlights.

WOW! WOW! WOW!

Amazing, and such graceful power. I guess with its equally considerable finsize, this makes Mesonychotheutis the more likely to be an active hunter as well; an exciting concept.

Good to see the old doubledecker in comparison to real life squid representations, this time around :wink:

PS: bar the 8 meter mantle length for M. hamiltonii, obviously,..., or do you think that.... :shock:

For those who (like me) had problems viewing the embedded vid over at BBC, check this blog entry (http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/2007/02/14/giant-squid-dazzles-prey-with-fireworks/) at the neurophilosophy (http://neurophilosophy.wordpress.com/) site instead. It features an embedded youtube version (ie. flash) of the same video. (BTW, it includes a neat vampire squid video as well).

From what I know and have observed (limited!) travel forward when attacking but cruise backwards!

J

I now see that I had overlooked Phil's second post. Looks like there are actually several videos then, -the NewScientist story (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn11161) links to three different ones (and the resolution is better than in the other ones I've seen too). Or are these just outtakes from the video at BBC (which I can't play) or what? Don't want to miss anything.. :razz:

Ok, if anyone would like the full report Hunting behaviour and bioluminescence of a large deep-sea, eight armed squid - Taningia danae, click here (http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/media/proceedings_b/papers/RSPB20060236.pdf). This is straight from the pages of the Royal Society website, but be warned, there is a lack of double-decker bus images though.

Before I read the article I had no idea that this was the first time a living Taningia had ever been filmed in its natural habitat. I think we should start a dedicated Dr Kubodera tribute thread! :notworth:

The article concludes with some very interesting speculation about the hunting strategy of Taningia. As it lacks tentacles, the animals feeding strategy appears to be to rush at its prey whereas most other squid would move in but stand off, using tentacles to sieze and draw prey in and then ensnare with their arms. Taningia has been forced to adapt an entirely different, and highly energetic, attack using arm photophores to dazzle prey and use the image generated to home in. Fascinating stuff.

Yes, great story and images. Dr. K delivers!

So funny that they busted out the double-decker bus again, gotta love that.

Great article!

I have a couple of questions...

When do the young lose their feeding tentacles? Do they just fall off? Do they resorb?

Well, at least I was able to watch the youtube version. Truly spectacular creature!

It is a great article. Lots to think about. I looked up the web address for Goto-Aqua, cited as the makers of the camera rig, and found a page for it (in Japanese, with prices helpfully noted):

Go-To Aqua, Makers of Squid-Cam (http://www.goto-aqua.co.jp/ss2%200612/SINSEIHIN2006.12.htm)

Cuttlegirl, you question's got me to thinking about the lost tentacles too, namely, how do the brains of organisms that lose specialized limbs during their life cycles adapt to the loss, especially if another set of specialized limbs assumes a role similar to the lost ones? Do young Taningia use their tentacles to range targets?

Clem

Here's what James Woods had to say... on his Cephalopod page http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/Tdanae.php

Taningia danae is included in the family of eight-armed squid (Octopoteuthidae) because while the juveniles have two tentacles in addition to the eight arms, by the time they mature, the tentacles are reduced to rudimentary filaments or disappear altogether.

I think we should start a dedicated Dr Kubodera tribute thread! :notworth:

I think we should too, because this is not the first, nor will it be the last we hear from or about him!

This is actually based on footage several years ago ... and he's out there still; imagine what other 'little' surprises he has up his sleeves!

In fact, we should immortalise him with a Dr Kubodera emoticon! (Neil has one!)

:ku: would do :smile:

Or \(^o^)/, rather?

Playfuls.com (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0i-0&fd=R&url=http://www.playfuls.com/news_004697_Giant_Squid_Found_To_Be_Fast _And_Ferocious.html&cid=1113632507&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Giant luminescent squid captured on film for first time (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-0&fd=R&url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx%3Fid%3D227580&cid=1113632507&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Ninemsn, Australia - 9 hours ago
Japanese scientists have released video footage of a live giant squid in what is believed to be the first time the elusive creature has been filmed in its ...
Video Captures Deep-sea Squid Hunting (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-1&fd=R&url=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/127573.html&cid=1113632507&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ) Buzzle
Giant Squid Found To Be Fast And Ferocious (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-2&fd=R&url=http://www.postchronicle.com/news/science/article_21264188.shtml&cid=1113632507&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ) Post Chronicle
Giant squid found to be fast and ferocious (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/0-3&fd=R&url=http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Science/20070214-023459-7784r/&cid=1113632507&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ) United Press International
all 17 news articles

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Giant squid found to be fast and ferocious (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/1-0&fd=R&url=http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php%3Ffeed%3DScience%26article%3DU PI-1-20070214-16015200-bc-japan-squid.xml&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Science Daily (press release) - 13 hours ago
Intelligence of squid and octopuses -- The cephalopod class of mollusks are considered the most intelligent invertebrates and an important example of ...


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The NewStandard (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2i-0&fd=R&url=http://newstandardnews.net/content/ion/index.cfm/bulletin/6285&cid=1113357537&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Deep-sea squid captured on video for first time (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/2-0&fd=R&url=http://newstandardnews.net/content/ion/index.cfm/bulletin/6285&cid=1113357537&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
The NewStandard, NY - 9 hours ago
One of the world's largest species of squid has been filmed for the first time hunting in the wild by Japanese researchers. The meter-long 8-armed squid, ...


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Monster Glowing Squid Caught on Camera (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070214-giant-squid.html&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
National Geographic, DC - 14 hours ago
The footage shows the animals—Dana octopus squid, or Taningia danae—targeting prey with bright flashes of light emitted from their arms. ...


More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/3-0&fd=R&url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070214-giant-squid.html&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)

Great Squid! (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://plentymag.com/thecurrent/2007/02/great_squid.php&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Plenty Magazine, NY - 12 hours ago
Watch the cephalopod in action. The eight-armed creature may also use bioluminescence to judge the distance to its meal and to communicate, the researchers ...


More... (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/5-0&fd=R&url=http://plentymag.com/thecurrent/2007/02/great_squid.php&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)

A very Bright Squid (http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=T&ct=us/6-0&fd=R&url=http://technocrat.net/d/2007/2/14/14881&cid=0&ei=eTzURdSwOaqKHInxqPkJ)
Technocrat.net, MA - 11 hours ago
Big squids have been caught on video using a very bright "flash" to startle their prey before grabbing them. It's quite a spectacular display. ...


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I think we should too, because this is not the first, nor will it be the last we hear from or about him!

This is actually based on footage several years ago ... and he's out there still; imagine what other 'little' surprises he has up his sleeves!

In fact, we should immortalise him with a Dr Kubodera emoticon! (Neil has one!)

Agreed! Maybe we should also make him an honorary supporter or something. He sure gives us enough to talk about. Maybe we could even convince him to join!

Yes, Sorseress! Dr. Kubodera's work has provided us with thrilling matrerial and answered prayers over the last four years. Any chance he could do some kind of online Q&A here, someday?

Steve, if Ku got these T. danae images whilst doing a serious survey of the teuthid fauna near Ogasawara, I'm betting he's got big surprises in store. It's almost like a drumbeat. And, I'd kill to see it all in IMAX 3-D.:shock:

Cheers,
Clem

That, AND the Isla Santa Clara video, if that is anything more than an teuthid myth I seem to have co-created myself :sad:

In fact, we should immortalise him with a Dr Kubodera emoticon! (Neil has one!)

How about something like this? Do you think we need a love heart behind him or wings?

How about something like this? Do you think we need a love heart behind him or wings?

I like it..............how about tentacles?

J

Yes! MORE tentacles, Igor, mooooorrreee tentacles!!

We've certainly had a lot of incredible squid findings lately-first Dr. Kubodera's stills, then the Archi that Dr. Kubodera brought up to the surface... and now this and the huge Messie. I'm stunned and excited.

I've watched each of these videos several times and I'm stunned by the speed and agility of the Taningia, especially considering its massive size. Does anyone know how much of that agility and speed is related directly to the size of its fins? Because those are some huge fins.