Watch Te Papa’s Colossal Squid Get Defrosted!
17 April 2008
The colossal squid being brought onto the boat in the Ross Sea.
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa has announced it will defrost the largest known specimen of colossal squid on Wednesday 30 April.
The squid has made world headlines since it was gifted to Te Papa in February last year by the Ministry of Fisheries.
While the general public won’t be able to access the confined space of the laboratory, they will be able to watch the thaw and examination through a live webcam, which will be available from Te Papa’s website.
The squid, weighing 495kg and estimated to be 6 - 8m long, will be removed from storage in a walk-in freezer and placed in a temporary tank filled with a salty (saline) solution. A gradual defrosting process then occurs, which may take up to three to four days and helps to keep the squid in good condition for dissection and preservation.
The scientists will then examine the squid’s general anatomical features, take measurements, remove the stomach (and its contents), beak and other mouthparts; and determine the sex of the squid. They will have to work quickly as the specimen, once defrosted, will start to degrade or rot.
Finally the specimen will be fixed in a formalin solution for 3-4 weeks, prior to being placed in a purpose-built tank for display at Te Papa in the latter quarter of this year.
Natural History New Zealand will be filming the entire process for a Discovery Channel in-depth documentary programme, to be released worldwide in late 2008. The Channel is helping support the Te Papa colossal squid preservation programme and research project.
For more information, visit: www.tepapa.govt.nz
