Mystery squid 1

[Steve O'Shea]

Anyone want to tell me what squid this came from

It's a hook taken from one of the arms.

.....more to be revealed .... soon

 

[joel_ang]

Its been a long time. Well i guess it belongs to a colossal squid

 

[tonmo]

That would be my guess as well, but it would seem the punch line will not be quite so simple. Do tell more!

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Nope, not the colossal squid I'm afraid (this particular hook is at least twice the length of those on the colossal squid ).

Should be published ~ August 2003 (is 'in press' right now); it's used for something pretty horrible.

You'll probably hear about it when it's finally out.

 

[tonmo]

Moroteuthis robusta?

 

[Steve O'Shea]

..... getting colder

This thing (both hook and squid) are without parallel - pretty sensational find in fact. There are quite a number of 'giant' squid out there

 

[tonmo]

grrrrrrrrt!!! :x You're lucky you're on the other side of the planet.

Kondakovia longimana, the giant warty squid????

 

[GeoffC]

Egad!!
I just popped up for a look and what do I find? Dr O has found a big hook!

How big is the hook Dr O? And can you give us a clue as to how big the giant killer squid is that had this thing attached to it's arm???

 

[WhiteKiboko]

is it used by Halpoteuthis ferox as a bottle opener?

as for a real guess, is it used in some kinky mating activity?

 

[Phil]

Seriously: Is there any point in us guessing? If this is a new species then we'll never get it!

Silly: Is this a Sperm Whale toothpick?

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Quite correct (he says safe and secure in an office in the southern hemisphere, pulling faces 8) ). This has come from a squid that is not supposed to have hooks (it is quite a well-known squid, in that it was described in ..... hmmmmmm ...... don't want to give anything away ..... quite a long time ago). Ja, it's pretty bizarre!

..... but you want to see what we found out in Tasmania

 

[Steve O'Shea]

Egad!!
I just popped up for a look and what do I find?

Where'd this cool periscope come from?????

 

[tonmo]

Looks like GeoffC found that periscope somewhere in the Internet ether, good find! I'll add it to the smilies list, along with a few others I've been meaning to add...

 

[Steve O'Shea]

GeoffC sure did stumble on a good one there. I just took a wee squiz at your profile there Geoff, noting you're an archaeologist, with interests in paleontology and natural history (there was a third interest there I recall but I'm getting old and forgetful). Pretty cool. Ever found any squid beaks, gladius or hooks at any midden site/dig, or are you familiar with any such finds?

Might be a subject worthy of discussion.
Cheers
O

 

[Phil]

GEOFFC!

It may be non-ceph but tell please us all about your elephant bone you found in a 13th century pit in Chester (UK). Elephants were unknown in the UK then, obviously.

Perhaps best do this on another topic though; I don't really want to sidetrack this interesting discussion.

(We studied archaeology together, me and Geoff, and have dug on a few of the same sites together).