Wednesday, September 28, 2005
On camera at last: giant squid that left behind a 20ft tentacle
By Hiroko Tabuchi, AP
Published: 28 September 2005
On camera at last: giant squid that left behind a 20ft tentacle
other pics 1 2 Japanese scientists have photographed a live giant squid in the wild for the first time, ending an age-old quest to document one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep sea.
The team led by Tsunemi Kubodera, from the National Science Museum in Tokyo, tracked the 26-foot-long Architeuthis as it attacked prey at a depth of 3,000 feet off the coast of Japan's Bonin islands.
"We believe this is the first time a grown giant squid has been captured on camera in its natural habitat," said Kyoichi Mori, a marine researcher who co-authored an article on the finding in Wednesday's issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
The camera was operated by remote control during research in the fall of 2004, capping a three-year search for the squid around the Bonin islands, 1,000 kilometers (670 miles) south of Tokyo, Mori told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The feat was praised by researchers as an important milestone in observation of the enormous creatures, which appeared in the writings of the ancient Greeks as well as Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
"It's the holy grail of deep sea animals," said Jim Barry, a marine biologist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California who has searched for giant squid without luck. "It's one that we have never seen alive, and now someone has video of one."
New Zealand's leading authority on giant squid, marine biologist Steve O'Shea, hailed the Japanese team's feat, although he said the photographs in themselves would probably not advance knowledge about the animals much.
"Our reaction is one of tremendous relief that the so-called ... race is over ... because the animal has consumed the last eight or nine years of my life," he said. O'Shea added that Kubodera's determination in tracking down the animal "is truly commendable. I think it is fantastic."
Mori said the squid, which was purplish red like smaller squid, attacked its quarry aggressively.
"Contrary to belief that the giant squid is relatively inactive, the squid we captured on film actively used its enormous tentacles to go after prey," Mori said.
"It went after some bait that we had on the end of the camera and became stuck, and left behind a tentacle six meters long, " Mori said.
Kubodera, also reached by The AP, said researchers ran DNA tests on the tentacle and found it matched those of other giant squids found around Japan. The animal — which has eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles — was not in danger of dying from the injury, he said.
"Other sightings were of smaller, or very injured squids washed toward the shore — or of parts of a giant squid," Kubodera said. "This is the first time a full-grown, healthy squid has been sighted in its natural environment in deep water."
"I always suspected that giant squid lived in deep water, and that they moved as actively as ordinary squid," Kubodera added. "Our discovery confirms this."
The researcher, however, would make no claims about the scientific significance of his team's work.
"As for the impact our discovery will have on marine research, I'll leave it to other researchers to decide," he said.
Giant squids have long attracted human fascination and imagination, but almost everything scientists know about them has come from dead specimens found beached or floating in the ocean. The largest ones have eyes the size of dinner plates. Scientific interest in the animals has surged in recent years as more specimens have been caught in commercial fishing nets.
Researchers said the quest to learn more about the animals would go on.
O'Shea, who said there were five equally large or larger species of giant squid that have yet to be photographed, has pursued the beasts in the hope of capturing juveniles and raising them successfully in captivity.
O'Shea, the chief marine scientist at the Auckland University of Technology, enclosed 17 of them five years ago, but they died in captivity.
"We are using this charismatic mega fauna to lure people in to ... far more important issues such as conservation ... of these magnificent creatures," he said.
By focusing on the giant squid and protecting it by closing areas of coastal habitat, many smaller species were also being protected from bottom trawling and other fishing methods, he added.
Kubodera said he hoped to get more funding to carry on research, possibly to capture videos of giant squids in the same area. Currently, the project is funded only by the National Science Museum.
The next hunt for the giant squid will be in mid-October, Kubodera said. No giant squid were found in an earlier hunt this month.
and if you read all that, you're more patient than i, truly fascinating nonetheless. # posted by The Prisoner | 2:35 PM |
By Hiroko Tabuchi, AP
Published: 28 September 2005
On camera at last: giant squid that left behind a 20ft tentacle
other pics 1 2 Japanese scientists have photographed a live giant squid in the wild for the first time, ending an age-old quest to document one of the most mysterious creatures of the deep sea.
The team led by Tsunemi Kubodera, from the National Science Museum in Tokyo, tracked the 26-foot-long Architeuthis as it attacked prey at a depth of 3,000 feet off the coast of Japan's Bonin islands.
"We believe this is the first time a grown giant squid has been captured on camera in its natural habitat," said Kyoichi Mori, a marine researcher who co-authored an article on the finding in Wednesday's issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
The camera was operated by remote control during research in the fall of 2004, capping a three-year search for the squid around the Bonin islands, 1,000 kilometers (670 miles) south of Tokyo, Mori told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
The feat was praised by researchers as an important milestone in observation of the enormous creatures, which appeared in the writings of the ancient Greeks as well as Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
"It's the holy grail of deep sea animals," said Jim Barry, a marine biologist at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California who has searched for giant squid without luck. "It's one that we have never seen alive, and now someone has video of one."
New Zealand's leading authority on giant squid, marine biologist Steve O'Shea, hailed the Japanese team's feat, although he said the photographs in themselves would probably not advance knowledge about the animals much.
"Our reaction is one of tremendous relief that the so-called ... race is over ... because the animal has consumed the last eight or nine years of my life," he said. O'Shea added that Kubodera's determination in tracking down the animal "is truly commendable. I think it is fantastic."
Mori said the squid, which was purplish red like smaller squid, attacked its quarry aggressively.
"Contrary to belief that the giant squid is relatively inactive, the squid we captured on film actively used its enormous tentacles to go after prey," Mori said.
"It went after some bait that we had on the end of the camera and became stuck, and left behind a tentacle six meters long, " Mori said.
Kubodera, also reached by The AP, said researchers ran DNA tests on the tentacle and found it matched those of other giant squids found around Japan. The animal — which has eight arms and two longer feeding tentacles — was not in danger of dying from the injury, he said.
"Other sightings were of smaller, or very injured squids washed toward the shore — or of parts of a giant squid," Kubodera said. "This is the first time a full-grown, healthy squid has been sighted in its natural environment in deep water."
"I always suspected that giant squid lived in deep water, and that they moved as actively as ordinary squid," Kubodera added. "Our discovery confirms this."
The researcher, however, would make no claims about the scientific significance of his team's work.
"As for the impact our discovery will have on marine research, I'll leave it to other researchers to decide," he said.
Giant squids have long attracted human fascination and imagination, but almost everything scientists know about them has come from dead specimens found beached or floating in the ocean. The largest ones have eyes the size of dinner plates. Scientific interest in the animals has surged in recent years as more specimens have been caught in commercial fishing nets.
Researchers said the quest to learn more about the animals would go on.
O'Shea, who said there were five equally large or larger species of giant squid that have yet to be photographed, has pursued the beasts in the hope of capturing juveniles and raising them successfully in captivity.
O'Shea, the chief marine scientist at the Auckland University of Technology, enclosed 17 of them five years ago, but they died in captivity.
"We are using this charismatic mega fauna to lure people in to ... far more important issues such as conservation ... of these magnificent creatures," he said.
By focusing on the giant squid and protecting it by closing areas of coastal habitat, many smaller species were also being protected from bottom trawling and other fishing methods, he added.
Kubodera said he hoped to get more funding to carry on research, possibly to capture videos of giant squids in the same area. Currently, the project is funded only by the National Science Museum.
The next hunt for the giant squid will be in mid-October, Kubodera said. No giant squid were found in an earlier hunt this month.
and if you read all that, you're more patient than i, truly fascinating nonetheless. # posted by The Prisoner | 2:35 PM |
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
More Work
the prisoner's arms are on fire
Lots of very heavy lifting. lots.
The only even worth retelling was something that quite disturbed me on monday morning.
The five of us (Self, Dave, Mick, Scott from Becks and Darren the crane driver) were sitting in a cafe having a cooked breakfast, we wouldnt have a chance to eat for the rest of the day. I've never met scott or Darren before, but they seemed nice enough. Anyway, eventually scott produces his mobile and throws it over to dave.
"ere, ave a look at that video"
i couldnt see the screen for where i was,
"that's a bloody funny way to change gear" says dave "that girl has many talents. Have a look at that mick, i wouldnt want to use the car after her would you?"
"nah it'd be all faakin' slippery"
whatever was on that screen could not be worse than the route my wayward and uncontrolable imagination took at that moment.
i don't even want to know what was actually going on, i'm afraid.
in other news, happy birthday paul, who is now 20!!!
back to uni on monday, about faakin' time!!
todays music: ACDC-Jailbreak
todays t-shirt: Emo- Making Geeks and pricks look cool since 2003 # posted by The Prisoner | 10:56 AM |
the prisoner's arms are on fire
Lots of very heavy lifting. lots.
The only even worth retelling was something that quite disturbed me on monday morning.
The five of us (Self, Dave, Mick, Scott from Becks and Darren the crane driver) were sitting in a cafe having a cooked breakfast, we wouldnt have a chance to eat for the rest of the day. I've never met scott or Darren before, but they seemed nice enough. Anyway, eventually scott produces his mobile and throws it over to dave.
"ere, ave a look at that video"
i couldnt see the screen for where i was,
"that's a bloody funny way to change gear" says dave "that girl has many talents. Have a look at that mick, i wouldnt want to use the car after her would you?"
"nah it'd be all faakin' slippery"
whatever was on that screen could not be worse than the route my wayward and uncontrolable imagination took at that moment.
i don't even want to know what was actually going on, i'm afraid.
in other news, happy birthday paul, who is now 20!!!
back to uni on monday, about faakin' time!!
todays music: ACDC-Jailbreak
todays t-shirt: Emo- Making Geeks and pricks look cool since 2003 # posted by The Prisoner | 10:56 AM |
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Well bugger my giddy aunt!
You wait around for ages for something to happen thats worth writing about, then a load come up all at once!
firstly...
Hair 2-The sequel
the prisoner and the symbiotic being on his head...again
LOOK AT IT! It's so curly round the edges! I had nothing to do with that! it just sort of did it on it's own. Most baffling but it seems to have gone down well.
still dont know how long i'm going to let it get but i'm rather enjoying the results of this experiment.
Work
The prisoner goes temping, for a day.
did some work for dave again yesterday, for those of you not in the know, this means heavy manual labour all day. but the moneys good, if only they had more work for me i might be able to clear my overdraft. Anyway, yesterday i had t get the train in cos my dad was somewhere else, which meant experiencing the joys of rush hour train to victoria for the first time, remind me never to get a job in london! the tube on the other hand was all but deserted, everyone else was heading into the city, while i was on a southbound to vauxhall and the old south bank university, which is scheduled for demolition. But not before us four have removed some machine or other, god knows what it does, but it was bloody awkward to get out for several reasons.
1. It had to be removed in one piece, not dismantled.
2.It was about 10 feet taller than the building it was inside
3.it was sunk into a pit from which it had to be lifted.
4. We couldnt get a forktruck inside the building, therfore it had to be lifted on chain blocks by us four.
that was how i spent ten hours yesterday. even dave and mick (hardened veterans i suppose) said it was bloddy hard work, but it's done now. Monday will be dead easy compared to that.
Incidentally, when you see a new ikea advert in a few weeks or months, I was there! The were shooting it on the same site, they constructed a set upstairs somewhere and were doing a massive shoot over the weekend.
till next time mes amis
todays music: The Wildhearts - Nurse Maximum
todays t-shirt: Jack and Jill did it for the insurance # posted by The Prisoner | 10:49 AM |
You wait around for ages for something to happen thats worth writing about, then a load come up all at once!
firstly...
Hair 2-The sequel
the prisoner and the symbiotic being on his head...again
LOOK AT IT! It's so curly round the edges! I had nothing to do with that! it just sort of did it on it's own. Most baffling but it seems to have gone down well.
still dont know how long i'm going to let it get but i'm rather enjoying the results of this experiment.
Work
The prisoner goes temping, for a day.
did some work for dave again yesterday, for those of you not in the know, this means heavy manual labour all day. but the moneys good, if only they had more work for me i might be able to clear my overdraft. Anyway, yesterday i had t get the train in cos my dad was somewhere else, which meant experiencing the joys of rush hour train to victoria for the first time, remind me never to get a job in london! the tube on the other hand was all but deserted, everyone else was heading into the city, while i was on a southbound to vauxhall and the old south bank university, which is scheduled for demolition. But not before us four have removed some machine or other, god knows what it does, but it was bloody awkward to get out for several reasons.
1. It had to be removed in one piece, not dismantled.
2.It was about 10 feet taller than the building it was inside
3.it was sunk into a pit from which it had to be lifted.
4. We couldnt get a forktruck inside the building, therfore it had to be lifted on chain blocks by us four.
that was how i spent ten hours yesterday. even dave and mick (hardened veterans i suppose) said it was bloddy hard work, but it's done now. Monday will be dead easy compared to that.
Incidentally, when you see a new ikea advert in a few weeks or months, I was there! The were shooting it on the same site, they constructed a set upstairs somewhere and were doing a massive shoot over the weekend.
till next time mes amis
todays music: The Wildhearts - Nurse Maximum
todays t-shirt: Jack and Jill did it for the insurance # posted by The Prisoner | 10:49 AM |
Friday, September 09, 2005
Idling
Absolutly nothing has happened in the world of the prisoner
i'm so fucking bored.
todays music: Activem - Just want a girl (good but they'll never replace the barbs)
todays t-shirt: I see stupid people # posted by The Prisoner | 10:02 AM |
Absolutly nothing has happened in the world of the prisoner
i'm so fucking bored.
todays music: Activem - Just want a girl (good but they'll never replace the barbs)
todays t-shirt: I see stupid people # posted by The Prisoner | 10:02 AM |
Sunday, September 04, 2005
G.O.
The Barbs-RIP
I've changed the name of this blog because it's namesake no longer exists. Naturally im disappointed, not least because of all the unreleased or unrecorded material which will go on being so, much of which i believed to be their best work. However, the split was not a total surprise considering the complete lack of activity for a number of months, shame really.
So, Epitaph for the Barbs: A Band who got far less recognition than they deserved (except in the phillipines), but enabled a small yet eclectic group of fans to rock out and get very drunk on a number of occasions.
In fact, now that i think about it, there's an awful lot of things i have done, bands i have discovered and people i have met that are indirectly down to the Barbs,an awful lot, for two and a bit years i followed their career with interest and in turn, my life went in a direction it might not have necessarily gone but im damn happy it did.
The Url will remain the same for convieniences sake, but new banners and titles are the order of the day.
I Go Back to Uni in a few weeks, so an end to the perpetual bordedom at last.
and now for the weeks other items...
Scream For Me Hammersmith!
The Prisoner and The Prisoner senior get headbutted with love by Iron Maiden
i've been into maiden for years, but the buggers never tour! they settle for festivals which i can never afford to go to. The last time they toured i already had something booked on the day of the earls court gig! Gaaah!!!!
But a few days ago me and dad went to a one off benefit gig at hammersmith and it was worth every second of the wait. My Love for maiden has been rekindled somewhat by a truly amazing show, great songs and one of the best crowds i've seen at any gig ever. You know the real die hard fans you always get at the front, that was the whole audience. You dont feel nearly so geeky while singing every word if everyone else in the room is doing it too.
I cant even bring myself to describe whats happening in the US, i feel for the victims, but more than that, i am disgusted at the US powers that be and their handling of the situation. anyway, i dont want to talk about that.
todays t-shirt
todays music: The Barbs - Massive crush, Bury You, Importance of being evil, Dangerman, Evil eye, Transylvania Time, Monday to thursday, G.O. and all the bloody rest... # posted by The Prisoner | 6:39 PM |
The Barbs-RIP
I've changed the name of this blog because it's namesake no longer exists. Naturally im disappointed, not least because of all the unreleased or unrecorded material which will go on being so, much of which i believed to be their best work. However, the split was not a total surprise considering the complete lack of activity for a number of months, shame really.
So, Epitaph for the Barbs: A Band who got far less recognition than they deserved (except in the phillipines), but enabled a small yet eclectic group of fans to rock out and get very drunk on a number of occasions.
In fact, now that i think about it, there's an awful lot of things i have done, bands i have discovered and people i have met that are indirectly down to the Barbs,an awful lot, for two and a bit years i followed their career with interest and in turn, my life went in a direction it might not have necessarily gone but im damn happy it did.
The Url will remain the same for convieniences sake, but new banners and titles are the order of the day.
I Go Back to Uni in a few weeks, so an end to the perpetual bordedom at last.
and now for the weeks other items...
Scream For Me Hammersmith!
i've been into maiden for years, but the buggers never tour! they settle for festivals which i can never afford to go to. The last time they toured i already had something booked on the day of the earls court gig! Gaaah!!!!
But a few days ago me and dad went to a one off benefit gig at hammersmith and it was worth every second of the wait. My Love for maiden has been rekindled somewhat by a truly amazing show, great songs and one of the best crowds i've seen at any gig ever. You know the real die hard fans you always get at the front, that was the whole audience. You dont feel nearly so geeky while singing every word if everyone else in the room is doing it too.
I cant even bring myself to describe whats happening in the US, i feel for the victims, but more than that, i am disgusted at the US powers that be and their handling of the situation. anyway, i dont want to talk about that.
todays t-shirt
todays music: The Barbs - Massive crush, Bury You, Importance of being evil, Dangerman, Evil eye, Transylvania Time, Monday to thursday, G.O. and all the bloody rest... # posted by The Prisoner | 6:39 PM |
Click for extensive links
archive
04/01/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/01/2004 - 06/01/2004
06/01/2004 - 07/01/2004
07/01/2004 - 08/01/2004
08/01/2004 - 09/01/2004
09/01/2004 - 10/01/2004
10/01/2004 - 11/01/2004
11/01/2004 - 12/01/2004
12/01/2004 - 01/01/2005
01/01/2005 - 02/01/2005
02/01/2005 - 03/01/2005
03/01/2005 - 04/01/2005
04/01/2005 - 05/01/2005
05/01/2005 - 06/01/2005
06/01/2005 - 07/01/2005
07/01/2005 - 08/01/2005
08/01/2005 - 09/01/2005
09/01/2005 - 10/01/2005
10/01/2005 - 11/01/2005
11/01/2005 - 12/01/2005
12/01/2005 - 01/01/2006
01/01/2006 - 02/01/2006
02/01/2006 - 03/01/2006
03/01/2006 - 04/01/2006
04/01/2006 - 05/01/2006
05/01/2006 - 06/01/2006