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.
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!!!!!
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...
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.
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.
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