Giant octopus dredged up off New Zealand


WELLINGTON, March 28 (Reuters) - Scientists have identified what they believe is the largest octopus ever seen, a four metre (13 foot) long giant hauled from the depths near New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands.

The dead specimen, caught in a trawler's net, was badly damaged but it was clearly a massive animal, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)marine biologist Steve O'Shea.

"It would easily have been four-plus metres in total length and a weight of 70-75 kg (154-165 pounds), if not more -- it's a very big octopus, the size of a fully mature male giant squid."

O'Shea had provisionally identified the specimen, caught at a depth of more than 900 metres (3,000 feet), as Haliphron Atlanticus, a bright red, jelly-like species of octopus not previously found in the South Pacific.

Juveniles of the species had been found in shallow northern waters, with adults believed to live at a depth of around 250 metres so the discovery was unusual, he said.

"It's extremely deep, it's extremely large, it's the first recorded in the South Pacific, it may not even be the species we've attributed to it at this point in time -- I've got a lot more work to do on it."

People had been amazed when he relayed the details of the creature, O'Shea said.

"But down here in New Zealand, this is an area which is so poorly explored that its not surprising that we're getting all these weird and wonderful animals.

"The frightening thing is that we are getting an animal like this newly reported in New Zealand waters today...so new and large, you've got to sit down and ask yourself 'What is it we know about the deep sea environment?'," O'Shea said.

Octopuses are one of the most diverse creatures on earth, with several hundred species worldwide and more than 40 species found in New Zealand waters alone.

The Chathams are a windswept group of islands around 850 km (530 miles) east of Christchurch, home to around 800 people engaged in sheep farming and fishing.