whalefall's Favorites

Found floating on the surface of the water right on the edge of Challenger Bank, where the bank quickly drops from 250 feet to well over 1000. Highly likely a Cuvier’s Beaked Whale kill as they are regularly seen in this area. I have the specimen frozen to take to the museum if it’s something new for them.

Calmar échantillonné par Denis Chabot lors d'un relevé de crevette nordique par MPO-Québec en estuaire du Saint-Laurent / Squid sampled by Denis Chabot during a northern shrimp survey by DFO-Québec in the St. Lawrence Estuary. 145 g, 185 mm ML. Collection IML: 11900

Took this photo when it arrived off a fishing boat before refreezing. The squid was caught by the crew of the Margaret Philippa, in a net of orange roughy at a trawl depth of 1000m and offered to the local Uni for research. link to news article.. https://www.waikato.ac.nz/news-opinion/media/2020/rare-giant-squid-caught-in-the-bay-of-plenty-will-assist-mpi-research

An amazing glass squid. When I disturbed it it would tuck in its tentacles and eyes, and even its fins and show big spots. So cool. The area around the brain was brightly iridescent. There are very faint long tubercles around the mantle if that helps with species id.
Really hard to get nice shots with a compact camera sadly.

~2.5cm long