I’m only a novice “squid hugger” but here are some of my observations about the video: Yes, it is interesting that there is always an attempt for squid squads to claim that their squid photo was the first live squid photo. Although there have been many “first” photographs, I think this is the first video. I do wonder why Kubodera didn’t attach a video camera on to the hook two years ago. And I, like many of you, wonder what is left out of the recent film. Since the camera is filming from the boat, it can be assumed that the camera didn’t record the squid in its “natural environment” but recorded the squid hooked on the surface. The video that was cut out likely shows the struggle of the “squidmen” reeling in the squid. Unless there were two cameras, one on the hook/line and one on the boat, then the rest of the film is only relevant to see just how much the people struggled in reeling the squid in. The struggle is not really media friendly, especially because the squid did die. No one wants to see that kind of violence in a scientific discovery story, right?
And as many people indicated, the squid was strong enough to require two people to reel her in, meaning that the squid is probably strong enough to lift its arms out of the water. But here is my question, because of the (here is where I sound really novice) ammonia concentrations(?), wouldn’t being on the surface make the squid heavier than when it is at depth? What I’m trying to ask is: is it possible that the squid would have a more difficult time getting its arms out of the water simply because it is not suppose to be at the surface? In general, it seems like that question is not as relevant as some other questions simply because squid are only at the surface when dying or dead or in some type of distress. I could be misunderstanding this, let me know.
About the tiger stripes on the arms (or are they called legs?), I’m not sure of the significance of that. Is it because the giant squid does in fact change colors, something I was told was a myth (Because they live in pitch black there would be no need?) Would the tiger striping mean that is a type of distress call as shown with other squids? There is likely many cuts, etc., on the squids arms, mitigating the tiger stripe evidence, although I did noticed that the mantle changing between white and red, too. (By the way, that red is beautiful!)
Thanks for all your comments—I’m always tuning in to hear what you say about the two years ago pics, to now, and even when the Crocodile hunter passed away.
Cheers and Merry Cephalopodmas.