Architeuthis again (never a dull moment in New Zealand)

[Steve O'Shea]

One of the things that has kept us busy for a while. I have a monster female turning up in a few days (below), and have to pickle this down also

 

[tonmo]

Yeah, that looks like a huge mantle! Maybe twisted a bit there are the top... Looks a bit decomposed, ay?

 

[sorseress]

Where do you pickle something of that size? Must take a huge vat.

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Not decomposed T; just frozen in a great block (and blast frozen on capture, so it is absolutely perfecto, albeit a little distorted at present [was placed on a pellet, hence its shape]). S, I've a huge stainless steel pickling tank here, well and truly large enough to pickle this beast (and a small whale or two); I've also a smaller 2 metre tank that is perfect for smaller beasts.

This incoming squid looks like one of the largest we've had so far; easily 2 metres in ML.

 

[Jean]

Hi Steve.........wow she's a beauty!! I'd be interested in the dimensions (incl weight!!!) IF it's OK , we, as you know have your Messie model and often have to compare sizes between Messie and Archie and we'd love to have up to date info!!!!!

Cheers

Jean

 

[monty]

It looks like there's a ramora or lamprey on the right side of the mantle, but that seems pretty improbable... is that just some fish that got frozen to it?

I was tempted to whine that no one sends me cool stuff like that, but since I don't have a giant vat, it's probably just as well...

 

[OB]

That is a massive specimen

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Am busy pickling it down now; the University does smell somewhat! It is in rather nice condition, but as is usually the case, there are no tentacles.

I am trying something slightly different with this one; the first 24 hours saw it in 2% formalin solution, and I've just bumped that up to 4% solution a few minutes ago. This is an approach Gunther von Hagens mentioned to me ... and I was nervous to try it (normally I'd blast it with 10% formalin, and inject through the animal).

I must admit that the condition of the animal looks better (less surface wrinkling), but time will tell. In a couple of days we'll post pics (I have none; others have plenty); in a week I'll change the formalin solution (it's a 'bit' grubby now) and will be able to have a good look at its condition.

My back is officially broken!

 

[monty]

happy squid-pickling. In other news, one of your earlier pickles is open to the public today, apparently:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10402608

 

[sorseress]

We should all pitch in and get you a trip or two to a good massage therapist.

 

[Tintenfisch]

Here are some shots of her arrival.

 

[Tintenfisch]

And Steve's palpable excitement.

 

[Architeuthoceras]

Great pics.

Looks like Steve gets ashes all over the place like I do.

 

[tonmo]

Wow, that's a great squid! Thanks much for posting.

 

[Infusoria]

It looks like there's a ramora or lamprey on the right side of the mantle, but that seems pretty improbable... is that just some fish that got frozen to it?

It's a rattail (there were 3), and it turns out to be Caelorinchus maurifasciatus, about which virtually nothing is known. As far as I know, all that is known about that species, is the original paper describing it. I'll be doing gut-content analysis on them later this week. There was also a barracudina in there as well. These fish were most likely bycatch that just got caught up with the squid in the trawl net.