Green | April 30, 2008 | 13 comments

Scientists ate some of giant 'beach-ball eyes' squid

source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/science/supersquids-a-giant--and-not-fully-grown/2008/04/30/12092...

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mattbrawn
Marine scientists studying the 10-metre long carcass of a colossal squid announced that its eyes were about 11 inches across, with a lens that is as big as an orange, meaning the new find has the largest animal eye on earth.

The beast was caught by fishermen last year off the north coast of Antarctica, and has been preserved in a huge block of ice until marine scientists were ready to examine it.

Scientists believe that the animal may not have been fully grown when it was caught, due to the shape of it's beak: "Perhaps the colossal squid gets up to 750 kilograms. That is certainly not the largest specimen out there."

One of the technicians at the Te Papa Tongarewa Museum where the squid will be housed, admitted that some of the scientists had yesterday snacked on part of another colossal squid being examined today.

"It was almost like a tua tua, you know a cockle. It was very nice. It left a real taste in your mouth and stayed for quite a while," he said.

"It was very much like [sashimi]. This is a gourmet meal. I don't know anyone else who has eaten Mesonychoteuthis."



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13 comments // Scientists ate some of giant 'beach-ball eyes' squid

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