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That is my understanding as well, Bhaskar. Since it is a deep oceanic
species, I wonder if its habitat range isn't far more extensive...
posted by
saul_relative
on February 23, 2007 at 10:36 PM
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Yes saul,
I heard of it as primarily an inhabitant of the entire circumantarctic South Ocean, found ony in the recent times.
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on February 23, 2007 at 10:02 PM
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You never know, Bhaskar. But colossal squid weren't unheard of, just
rarely encountered.
posted by
saul_relative
on February 23, 2007 at 9:51 PM
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Saul_relative
The giant size could be due to the Earth's gravitational force gotten reduced. Only a wild guess I'm making, but this wild guess could be scientific. As Einstein said: If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.
posted by
Bhaskar.ing
on February 23, 2007 at 9:50 PM
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Hey, Pat B. Can you say, "Kraken"?
posted by
saul_relative
on February 23, 2007 at 9:38 PM
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You're right, Nautikos. And I'm hoping that this flurry of sightings and
catches aren't harbingers of something darker.
posted by
saul_relative
on February 23, 2007 at 9:38 PM
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thank you, Frankenkitty. One of the reasons, I believe, that humans are
so glutinous and consumption/waste oriented is that almost half of the human population has been taught that they have dominion over the earth and all that's in it.
posted by
saul_relative
on February 23, 2007 at 9:35 PM
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Saul,
I saw the picture, and it was amazing, even if it wasn't very clear. It brought back memories from the time, some years ago, when I was involved in a bit of squid research in the Atlantic, and the biggest one I ever measured was 42" of mantle length, not including the tentacles. It snapped my pencil with its beak, as if it were a match.
Why do they turn up now? We certainly don't have the answers, and they certainly haven't turned up in great numbers anyway. Overfishing? Yes there has been and continues to be a lot of that (the Newfoundland cod fishery is dead, after 500 years), but I'm not at all sure that's the cause here. People jump to unwarranted conclusions much too quickly...
posted by
Nautikos
on February 23, 2007 at 8:10 PM
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Overfishing & the deep monsters going shallow might be an answer.
This ought to spur a documentary on the Science Channel. I'm really glad I wasn't swimming or tubing in that area... If your numbers are correct, the thing is longer than the lot my house sits on. :)
posted by
Pat_B
on February 23, 2007 at 2:49 PM
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Most definitely the squid are
facing a dwindling food supply. I have no doubt about it. The seas are over-fished. It bothers me when I see so much wasted food. The dumpsters outside restaurants are always full of half-eaten meals. Humans are a creature that enjoys consumption beyond need. Why? Have a great weekend
posted by
Flumpystalls3000
on February 23, 2007 at 2:23 PM
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thanks, afzal.
posted by
saul_relative
on February 22, 2007 at 11:27 PM
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Interesting read .
posted by
afzal50
on February 22, 2007 at 5:32 PM
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As to the age of the squid, I don't know. It may be a young'un, as we say
in the South. They found that nearly dead dinosaur-shark a couple weeks ago. I'm waiting for Nessy, myself...
posted by
saul_relative
on February 22, 2007 at 12:09 PM
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Saul...
That's a whole bunch of calamari...but it's got to be quite old...wouldn't you think? I'm intrigued. I wonder what's going on...hell...I wonder what other ginormous creatures have yet to surface.
posted by
---Masky---
on February 22, 2007 at 10:10 AM
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