Squid Skeptics Proven Wrong, Giant Squid Are Real

This groundbreaking photograph captures the first-ever images of a live giant squid (Architeuthis) in its natural deep-sea habitat[1][3]. The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is the world’s second largest cephalopod. The largest is the colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni)[18]. The historic encounter occurred in September 2004, about 10 miles off the coast of Japan’s Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands, approximately 600 miles southeast of Tokyo[2][3].

Yet another crazy theory turns out to be true. Since at least the 1860’s skeptics have ridiculed people for their belief in the giant squid. “No serious scientist could believe in such a creature.” You might want to pay closer attention to people’s reports of strange creatures.

The giant squid, long dismissed as a myth by skeptics, has proven to be a real and fascinating creature of the deep. Since the 1860s, reports of encounters with this elusive cephalopod have often been met with ridicule, but scientific exploration has gradually unveiled the truth behind these stories.

Historical Context

The giant squid (*Architeuthis dux*) has captured human imagination for centuries, inspiring tales of sea monsters and mythical creatures. Early accounts of giant squids often came from fishermen and sailors who encountered the creatures in the North Atlantic, particularly around Newfoundland. In 1873, Reverend Moses Harvey famously acquired a giant squid specimen, which became the first complete giant squid displayed and studied scientifically. This marked a turning point in understanding the existence of these deep-sea animals, which had been largely considered folklore until then[1][2].

A Wake Up Call for Rude Close-Minded Experts

In the mid-19th century, there was indeed significant doubt and ridicule directed at those who claimed giant squid existed. This skepticism came from both the scientific community and the general public. For example: There was a reported sighting of a sea serpent by the crew of HMS Daedalus in 1848.

The notoriously cantankerous anatomist Richard Owen expressed doubt about reports of large sea creatures, suggesting that such sightings were likely misidentifications of more common animals. He stated that it was more likely “that men should have been deceived by a cursory view of a partly submerged and rapidly moving animal, which might only be strange to themselves”. Owen believed that the sailors had likely seen nothing more than a very large seal and expressed doubts that anything worthy of the title “great sea serpent” actually existed.
Danish zoologist Japetus Steenstrup played a crucial role in establishing the scientific credibility of giant squid in 1857. He combined historical reports, tales of stranded creatures, and physical evidence (a large squid beak) to argue for the existence of “really gigantic cephalopods, whose existence has on the whole been doubted”.
The giant squid didn’t gain widespread scientific acceptance until specimens became available to zoologists in the second half of the 19th century. The formal naming of Architeuthis dux by Steenstrup in 1857 marked a turning point, but it wasn’t until the 1870s that a series of well-documented specimens from Newfoundland finally established the creature’s existence beyond doubt.

For some reason I take special delight in a skeptic doubter (anatomist Richard Owen in this case) being shown by history to be a fool, a doubting fool who insultingly and closemindedly asserted his expert view that other humans must have never seen a thing since since he hadn’t. This arrogant blindness, the assholery of going so far as telling someone that their senses deceived them, because nothing strange actually exists, this is a foul trait of many leaders of my species. Sadly, pompass groundless “debunking” is still alive and well today. Due to it, we are facing a crisis of belief, a loss of reality due to our inability to respect and trust eachother’s experiences.

New Evidence Can Emerge: Just as the giant squid was once relegated to the realm of myth, many creatures that are currently considered unlikely may one day be proven real. The deep sea, in particular, remains largely unexplored, and new species are regularly discovered. This extends far beyond unknown creatures, however.

Scientific Discoveries

Despite their size—some individuals can reach lengths of up to 43 feet (13 meters)—giant squids are rarely seen alive due to their deep-sea habitat. Most knowledge about them has come from dead specimens found washed ashore or inside the stomachs of sperm whales. The first live giant squid was filmed in its natural habitat in 2006, and since then, additional footage has confirmed their existence in the wild, challenging the long-held skepticism about their reality[1][4].

This next image is a dead baby giant squid on land. The one photographed above under water is over twice this size.

Recent Findings

The 2004 capture of a giant squid by Dr. Tsunemi Kubodera off the coast of Japan was a significant milestone, as it provided the first photographic evidence of a living giant squid. This event underscored the need for scientists to pay closer attention to reports of strange creatures, as the giant squid’s existence had been doubted for so long. The ongoing research and exploration into the deep ocean continue to reveal new insights into this mysterious species, illustrating that many extraordinary creatures may still remain undiscovered[1][3][5].

Giant Squid Vid (Jan 27, 2013)

First Live Giant Squid Video

The Hunt for the Elusive Giant

Dr. Tsunemi Kubodera, a zoologist from Japan’s National Science Museum, led the team that captured this remarkable footage[1]. Their success came after a decade of research and three years of expeditions in the area[2]. The researchers used an innovative approach to locate the squid:

1. They tracked sperm whales, known predators of giant squid[1].
2. They studied the whales’ diving patterns to determine the squid’s likely depth[3].
3. They deployed a 1km-long line with baited hooks and a camera attached[1].

The Encounter

The camera, operating at a depth of about 900 meters (2,950 feet), captured over 500 images of the giant squid[1][4]. The creature, estimated to be about 8 meters (26 feet) long, was likely an adult female[2][3]. The squid demonstrated unexpected behavior:

– It actively attacked the bait, contradicting previous assumptions about its lethargic nature[3].
– It struggled with the line for over four hours, eventually severing one of its own tentacles to escape[2].

Scientific Significance

This photographic evidence has provided valuable insights into the behavior and habitat of giant squid:

– It confirms the squid’s deep-sea habitat, between 2,000-3,000 feet below the surface[3].
– It suggests that the species is a more active predator than previously thought[3].
– It offers a rare glimpse of the world’s largest invertebrate in its natural environment[4].

The discovery has been hailed as finding “the holy grail of deep-sea animals” by marine biologists worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the study of these mysterious creatures[3][4].

“When a nearly 6-meter-long (19 foot) tentacle was hauled aboard his research ship, Tsunemi Kubodera knew he had something big. Then it began sucking on his hands. But what came next excited him most — hundreds of vivid photos of a rare giant squid in its natural habitat deep undersea.” – moscowtimes

Conclusion

In conclusion, the giant squid serves as a powerful reminder of the ocean’s vast mysteries and the importance of remaining open to the possibility of extraordinary life forms, even those once deemed impossible by the scientific community.

More importantly, this case teaches us a larger, more universal lesson: We should be cautious about invalidating other people’s experiences, especially when we are in positions of authority. Unless we can provide solid evidence to suggest that someone’s senses or perceptions are mistaken, it’s crucial to approach such accounts with an open mind and respect.

The reality is, we often can’t definitively prove that someone’s experience or observation is false, particularly when it comes to encounters with rare or elusive phenomena. This principle extends beyond marine biology to many areas of scientific inquiry and human experience.

The story of the giant squid reminds us that skepticism, while valuable in scientific discourse, should be balanced with humility. It underscores the importance of listening to and seriously considering eyewitness accounts and anecdotal evidence, even when they challenge our current understanding.

By maintaining this balance between critical thinking and open-mindedness, we not only pave the way for potential new discoveries but also foster a more inclusive and respectful approach to knowledge acquisition and human experience.

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News i8

Squid Skeptics Proven Wrong, Giant Squid Are Real

Historical Context

A Wake Up Call for Rude Close-Minded Experts

Scientific Discoveries