The Mysterious Magnapinna of the Deep
The Bigfin Squid, or Magnapinna. Suspended at depths of around 4,000 metres, one of the deep sea’s most elusive inhabitants lurks. At 8 metres long, and with slender arms and tentacles held perpendicular to the body, the Magnapinna or big-fin squid appears as if it’s holding a marionette puppet. These long tentacles drape into deeper waters and probe for zooplankton, allowing the squid’s body to remain concealed in the dark above as it feeds. Almost nothing is know about the big-fin squid. It was first sighted only 20 years ago, and has been captured on film just a handful of times. The most recent footage was captured this year, on the 9th of November, nearly 2 and a half kilometres down in the Gulf of Mexico by one of the NOAA’s remotely operated vehicle, offering a rare glimpse on the hidden world of a truly remarkable creature.
