KEY POINTS:
The largest squid found will be probed and measured at Wellington's Te Papa today by an international team of scientists.
The 495kg colossal squid, caught in Antarctic waters last February, has been defrosting since Monday, and today's examination will be broadcast live on Te Papa's website.
HOW BIG
IS IT?
Despite its 495kg weight and 6 to 8 metre length, measurements taken of the squid's beak yesterday showed it was only a middleweight.
At about 45mm, the beak was smaller than the 49mm beaks found in the bellies of sperm whales.
Scientists at Te Papa said yesterday that indicated colossal squid could be as heavy as 750kg.
IS IT A HE OR A SHE?
Of main interest to the scientists is the creature's sex.
It is presumed to be female because of its immense size (female squid are larger than male), but if it turned out to be male it would indicate that other squid grow much bigger.
It would also be the first male colossal squid found.
IS IT SMELLY?
Not really. Te Papa spokeswoman Jane Keig told the Herald the room in which scientists dissected a giant squid and a juvenile colossal squid yesterday smelt like a trip to the fish market.
The specimens had been snap-frozen so they were fresh and weren't rotting.
It is thought the ammonia found in the giant squid's tissues will cause it to smell more than the colossal squid, which is non-ammoniacal.
COULD YOU EAT IT?
Yes. The scientists have already sampled flesh from the smaller colossal squid, and say it tasted a lot like sashimi.
HOW WILL THEY EXAMINE IT?
Squid are delicate, and very easily damaged.
The scientists will be taking care to keep the colossal squid intact for its eventual display at Te Papa.
Once un-frozen, it will be treated with preservative.
Scientists will then determine its sex, measure it, take small tissue samples from the few bits of the specimen already unattached and examine its stomach contents using an endoscope.
No slices will be made on the giant specimen, as it is too rare a find to damage and its future display is of paramount importance, Ms Keig said.
But scalpels were used yesterday to examine the smaller colossal squid and the giant squid.
WHY ARE THEY DOING IT?
This is the eighth colossal squid found. Six of those eight have been incomplete specimens from the stomachs of whales.
Therefore little is known about the ocean monsters, despite their apparent abundance in the Antarctic depths - colossal squid make up 77 per cent of sperm whales' diets.
By inspecting the squid's stomach contents, scientists can see what the creature had been eating.
By measuring its beak they have established its size relative to beaks found in sperm whales.
Ms Keig said the reason's for examining the animals came from the basic drive of science - to understand the unknown.
"Isn't that the pursuit of science? And this species is just so enigmatic. These are creatures that live very far down in ocean and we know very little about them."
HOW WILL THEY PRESERVE IT?
After today's examination, the squid will be "fixed" by being injected with bicarbonate of soda mixed with formalin.
It will then be soaked in 7000 litres of formalin which will preserve it so it can go on display in the museum later this year.
- Additional information from Te Papa website: www.tepapa.govt.nz
