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| Colossal squid comes out of ice | |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Technicians in New Zealand have begun to thaw a rare colossal squid specimen. | |
| The operation to defrost the 10-metre (34 feet) long, half-tonne squid began on Monday afternoon in Wellington following a postponent of 24 hours. | |
| The animal is now sitting in a bath of salt water. Once it is thawed, scientists will begin to dissect it. | |
| Very little is known about colossal squid, which appear to live largely in the cold Antarctic waters and can grow up to 15 metres (50 feet) long. | |
| "They're incredibly rare - this is probably one of maybe six specimens ever brought up," said Carol Diebel, director of natural environment at the Museum of New Zealand's Te Papa centre. | |
| "It's certainly the one that we're being really careful about, completely intact and in really fantastic condition." | |
| The Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni specimen was caught in February 2007 in the Ross Sea. | |
| 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. |
| 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 are being 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 | Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |