Scientists have discovered traces of giant squid DNA off the coast of Australia — this is the first such confirmation in a quarter of a century. The study was conducted in the Ningaloo Reef area in the Indian Ocean, where specialists analyzed seawater samples.
Scientists have discovered traces of giant squid DNA off the coast of Western Australia. This is the first such confirmation in the last 25 years, reports NewsNation.
The study, the results of which were published in the journal Environmental DNA, was conducted in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean near Ningaloo Reef. Specialists collected 178 samples of seawater and analyzed them for traces of various organisms.
In total, scientists identified 226 species of marine animals. Among them were fragments of giant squid DNA. One of the researchers, D. Nester, noted that the data obtained is only part of a larger picture.
Additionally, specialists identified 83 species that had not previously been recorded in this area. According to the Smithsonian Oceanographic Institute, the largest documented giant squid reached 13 meters in length.
The material also clarifies that the first video footage of a live giant squid was captured only in 2012 off the coast of Japan. Before that, researchers had only encountered dead or nearly dead specimens.
The finding has reignited scientists' interest in one of the ocean's most mysterious creatures. Researchers believe that modern DNA analysis methods allow for the gathering of more information about rare deep-sea inhabitants, which remain extremely difficult for humans to observe in their natural environment.
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