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Preparations for the examination of the Taninigia (60 kg deep-sea hooked squid) are underway @ALCESonline @AutScience @MasseyUni
Step 1: Thaw the squid
The specimen has now thawed enough to reveal the photophores on the arms. Photophores, not be confused with tentacles, appear like luminous spots on invertebrates and fish living in the deep sea @ALCESonline
Now the team gets down to business collecting egg samples. This specimen was a gravid female meaning they were pregnant @ALCESonline
The full Taninigia is over 5ft long and was caught at 1000m depth. Our Curator Marine Invertebrates, Wilma Blom says "This animal has amazing photophores (bioluminescent light-producing organs) on two of the arms, as well as about 200 cat-like claws." @ALCESonline
This shot is of the spermatophore packet. This packet is implanted in the skin by the malesl, allowing them to attach into the skin. Some species also wound the female in order to implant them deeper. @ALCESonline
Watch the Livestream @AlbanyBiology https://www.facebook.com/BiologyAtAlbany/videos/768985450522532/ 
Harry from Kea Kids helping to thaw the Taninigia. We love seeing young people getting their start in the Sciences.
Rebecca Bray our Senior Collection Manager, Natural Sciences laying out the Taningia. Can you see the eyes and beak?
Close ups of one eyes and its beak @ALCESonline
The Taningia's eye will be used for scientific sampling
The team are starting to take samples. This tissue contains the implanted spermatangia from what appears to be a wound, deep inside the Taningia.
The digestive organ is being removed and the funnel is being preserved. The funnel is a multipurpose tube used in a range of bodily functions such as breathing and expelling waste and therefore acts as a diagnostic feature for scientific research.
The head of the T. fimbria (previously identified as a Taningia) being removed.
Can you see the pool of ink? The ink sac ruptured when the specimen was being rolled over.
Can you see the pool of ink? The ink sac ruptured when the specimen was being rolled over.
This is the gladius which dictates the mantle length. It has a chitinous structure (a derivative of glucose) that runs the length of squid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius_(cephalopod)
There was no last meal for this giant squid.
The esophagus, stomach and stomach cecum have been extracted to check for stomach contents, but it appears empty.
The esophagus, stomach and stomach cecum have been extracted to check for stomach contents, but it appears empty.
The cecum does includes some clues of activity including possible arm hooks that might indicate that younger specimen were consumed. The stomach is also being closely checked for parasites.
The ink sac is now being removed.
Cephalopod Ink sacs are normally understood to be used to confuse predators by shooting out a cloud of dark ink.
However, they could also function as part of a process of excretion or detoxification.
Cephalopod Ink sacs are normally understood to be used to confuse predators by shooting out a cloud of dark ink.
However, they could also function as part of a process of excretion or detoxification.
The beak is being extracted from the head. The two-part beak or rostrum is a feature of Cephalopod and look a bit like a parrot beak.
