The colossal squid, the world's largest squid species, was caught on video for the first time swimming in its natural habitat, according to California's Schmidt Ocean Institute.

An image of a nearly one-foot-long colossal squid, which was caught on camera live for the first time in its natural environment in the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Colossal squid (Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni), on the other hand, take the record based on weight. They have a similar-sized mantle (up to 8 ft 2 in/2.5 metres) but shorter tentacles.

The mantle of these Atlantic squid is packed with light-reflecting cells called iridophores (or iridocytes). Inside each iridophore, the team saw tightly coiled columns of protein reflectin.

The squid caught on video in the South Atlantic was a juvenile and much smaller than a full-grown adult, with the research team placing its size at around 11 inches long.

The squid, measuring about one foot in length, was seen nearly 2,000 feet below the surface in March, in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Schmidt Ocean Institute said in a statement.

Crew members on board a research vessel in the South Atlantic Ocean recorded the video of the world's largest squid species on March 9, Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit organization, which ...

A colossal squid has been caught on camera for the first time. Skip to content. All ... The squid filmed was a juvenile about 1 foot in length at a depth of 1,968 feet in the South Atlantic Ocean.

A colossal squid was filmed in its natural environment by scientists for the first time since its identification and naming 100 years ago, according to the Schmidt Ocean Institute.