MBARI’s first encounter with the remarkable bigfin squid (archival footage, 2001)

In May 2001, MBARI geologists surveying the seafloor off the coast of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) Tiburon filmed an unfamiliar squid with large undulating fins and long spaghetti-like arms . Taxonomists helped identify this animal as Magnapinna sp.—the rarely seen bigfin squid. This sighting, along with seven other submersible observations of related squid in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, was reported in the journal Science. MBARI scientists estimated that the individual seen by ROV Tiburon was between four and five meters (13.1 to 16.4 feet) long. Continued advancements in ocean technology are providing scientists with tools to reveal life in the largest habitat on Earth. Each new sighting of Magnapinna offers important clues about the natural history and behavior of this elusive deep-sea squid. Update (September 2, 2026): MBARI researchers recently logged a second encounter with this remarkable squid! Watch our newest bigfin squid si