After countless half-truths, myths, and out-and-out legends, we finally have wild video footage of one of the most bizarre creatures in the deep sea:
A colossal squid has been filmed in its natural environment for the first time since the species was discovered 100 years ago.
The 30cm-long (11.8in) juvenile was caught on camera at a depth of 600m (1,968ft), near the South Sandwich Islands in the south Atlantic Ocean.
Yes, it might be a foot-long juvenile — but it's still technically a colossal squid!
He's really a cute little fella!
Now, this little bugger isn't to be confused with the "giant squid." The giant and colossal squids are related, but still distinct from each other:
Sperm whales eat both kinds of squid, leading to epic battles that the "Wild Kratts" so helpfully illustrated for us:
Giant squid are very, very occasionally filmed, but the only thing ever filmed of an adult colossal squid is a carcass being hauled up out of the brine:
That means this most recent footage is historic indeed:
Dying adults have previously been filmed by people fishing, but have never been seen alive at depth.
You know what happens next, though...
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