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| Squid thaw set for a fresh start | |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| Technicians in New Zealand are set to begin defrosting a rare colossal squid, following a day's postponement. | |
| Having removed the creature from the freezer on Sunday, the team realised it would defrost too early for a planned examination by scientists on Wednesday. | Having removed the creature from the freezer on Sunday, the team realised it would defrost too early for a planned examination by scientists on Wednesday. |
| They now aim to begin operations at 1500 (0300 GMT) in Wellington. | |
| Very little is known about colossal squid, which can grow up to about 15m (50 feet) long and appear to live largely in the cold Antarctic waters. | |
| The squid being examined at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa centre is about 10m (34 feet) long and weighs about half a tonne. | |
| "We removed the colossal squid from the freezer and took it out of its plastic container bin," explained Te Papa's Chris Paulin on the museum's squid blog. | |
| "We discovered that the specimen filled the entire bin, and therefore there is very little ice surrounding it. Consequently the specimen would thaw well before Wednesday." | |
| The Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni specimen was caught in February 2007 in Antarctic waters. | The Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni specimen was caught in February 2007 in Antarctic waters. |
| Big unknown | Big unknown |
| The colossal squid is remarkable for its size, but also for how rarely it has been sighted. | The colossal squid is remarkable for its size, but also for how rarely it has been sighted. |
| It was identified first in 1925 from two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach. | It was identified first in 1925 from two tentacles found in a sperm whale's stomach. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/6549161.stm">Monster warning to protect oceans These deep-diving toothed whales regularly do battle with Mesonychoteuthis and other giant cephalopods such as the giant squid of the Architeuthis genus. | |
| Since 1925, only a few Mesonychoteuthis have been sighted, all in the seas around Antarctica. | Since 1925, only a few Mesonychoteuthis have been sighted, all in the seas around Antarctica. |
| Very little is known about how and where they live. The one certainty is that they are fearsome opponents, with big beaks and unique swivelling hooks on the club-like ends of their tentacles. | Very little is known about how and where they live. The one certainty is that they are fearsome opponents, with big beaks and unique swivelling hooks on the club-like ends of their tentacles. |
| One of the first tasks is likely to be ascertaining the squid's gender. | One of the first tasks is likely to be ascertaining the squid's gender. |
| This one is believed to be male; and females are thought to grow larger than males. | This one is believed to be male; and females are thought to grow larger than males. |
| So if this one is a he, presumably there are even bigger and heavier shes somewhere in the cold Antarctic waters. | So if this one is a he, presumably there are even bigger and heavier shes somewhere in the cold Antarctic waters. |
| The Te Papa scientists are also defrosting a smaller, damaged colossal squid specimen, and two giant squid. The defrosting and dissection will be shown in a live webcast. | |
| Later in the week, scientists are expected to give public lectures about their initial results. | Later in the week, scientists are expected to give public lectures about their initial results. |
| Once thawed and examined, the squid will be embalmed and preserved. | Once thawed and examined, the squid will be embalmed and preserved. |
| Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |