Te Papa's colossal squid goes on show
08 Dec 2008
New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, has a huge new treat in store for squid lovers, a world-first colossal squid exhibition due to open in Wellington this Saturday (13.12.08).
The star exhibit - a female colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) that's 4.2m long and weighs in at 495kg - is the biggest invertebrate ever discovered.
The massive creature will be displayed in an even larger tank. With the squid on board, the dramatically lit unit weighs a staggering three tonnes.
The exhibition will also include various body parts such as the orange-sized lens of the eye (the biggest ever discovered), working models of its beak and tentacle swivel hooks, and a stereoscopic 3D-animation immersing visitors in the deep sea world of the colossal squid.
Unique specimen
Colossal squid are found in Antarctic waters and are not related to giant squid found around the coast of New Zealand. The sharp swivelling hooks in the suckers at the tips of the squid's tentacles suggest that it is an aggressive hunter.
The unique specimen was landed by the New Zealand fishing vessel San Aspiring in the Ross Sea in 2007 and, since its capture, has generated wide-spread international interest.
"This exceptional specimen and interactive display contributes to our understanding and appreciation of our oceans depths and the amazing creatures that inhabit it," the museum's CEO, Dr Seddon Bennington said.
"Coupled with a comprehensive online exhibit, the entire experience from capture to defrosting to display, the research of the colossal squid is able to be shared worldwide."
Interactive technology
The exhibit will use interactive technology to tell the story of the squid, allowing museum and online visitors to learn about the colossal squid's anatomy, deep sea habitat, and the mysterious creatures that live in Antarctic oceans.
Associated squid-themed events at Te Papa will include scientific lectures, children's workshops and storytelling, and a squid dissection to introduce visitors to squid anatomy.
New Zealand fishing vessel
Visitors to the exhibition will also learn about the commercial fishermen and independent observers who work in the Ross Sea.
New Zealand fishermen travelled to amazing places often returning with interesting and unusual specimens, NZ Seafood Industry chief executive Owen Symmans said. Most people would never have the chance to go where these creatures dwelt.
Frozen squid
Stored for a year in a museum freezer, the colossal squid was defrosted in April 2008 and examined by a team of international scientists.
A webcast of the examination (and the dissection of two giant squid and a smaller damaged colossal squid) was a world-first, attracting up to 2400 simultaneous viewers each day, and 450,000 visits to Te Papa's website.
Discovery Channel US filmed the defrosting and examination for a documentary that was released in the North America earlier this year.
The exhibition will be on display at Te Papa for three years.
Background information:
Colossal squid under the knife
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