In short:
Researchers have dissected a 140-kilogram octopus squid found by fishermen floating dead in the Southern Ocean.
It is the second time an octopus squid has been pulled apart by researchers in South Australia.
What’s next?
The dissection will help determine how the squid died and learn more about the unique light-producing organs of the octopus squid, known as photophores.
Dozens have gathered to observe a rare public dissection of a 140-kilogram octopus squid found off South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.
Flinders University hosted school-age and university students, as well as keen members of the public at their Bedford Park campus for the event on Thursday, which was the second-ever dissection of a Dana octopus squid (Taningia danae) in South Australia.
The event was made possible by a keen-eyed tuna fisherman, who spotted the dead squid floating on the water around 100 kilometres south of Port Lincoln.
He contacted the local tuna industry’s research manager Kirsten Rough, who brought it to the laboratory.
“[He] rang me up and said, ‘Look I’ve just come across this giant squid, it’s mostly intact. It’s a dead one floating on the surface. Do you want it?’ And I said yes,” Ms Rough said.
The squid was then put on ice on the boat, before it was returned to land and shipped to the university.
Ms Rough noted most Southern Ocean fisherman have a general interest in marine science and tend to be the keenest observers on the sea.
“Sometimes they’re out there for weeks, and they’re a long way from shore and they get to see an awful lot of stuff which the general public do not,” she said.
“It’s wonderful that they make the most of these opportunities to share some of that wider stuff with the general public.”
Second ever octopus squid dissection in SA
News of the specimen’s arrival was well-received by university staff, especially research fellow Lauren Meyer.
“Once I got the call, I was not only really excited, but I thought ‘Oh goodness, how are we going to orchestrate getting a huge octopus squid from Port Lincoln over to Flinders?'” Dr Meyer said.
Although the specimen inadvertently landed in a bush during the moving process, a large group gathered to watch Dr Meyer cut open the squid and showcase its inner workings.
“This is actually the second time anybody in South Australia has gotten to dissect one of these squid, so to get your hands on a specimen, especially one of this quality, is exceptionally rare,” she said.
The state’s first dissection was also conducted by Dr Meyer almost three years ago, and was subject of one honours student’s thesis.
The display received mixed reactions from some of the younger onlookers.
“I was expecting it like that but not as gooey and slimy,” Mila said.
And although Keeley found it gross, she said she’s “seen worse”.
Ms Rough hopes the dissection will inspire some of the crowd to be the next generation of marine scientists and researchers.
“Most of the students these days, there’s a lot of time sitting in labs and sitting on desks and sitting on the internet,” she said.
“To be able to actually see something in real life, you get a totally different perspective of it, and I’m hoping that these opportunities will actually inspire students to take that next step.”
The dissection not only worked as a drawcard for prospective students, but Dr Meyer said the specimen will help with “a number of ongoing studies.”
One of the aims of the dissection was to determine how the squid died, and learn more about the unique light-producing organs of the octopus squid, known as photophores.
“While I have a little bit of experience dissecting these squid, it’s really exciting to get the opportunity again,” Dr Meyer said.
