This Rare Creature’s Tentacles are Longer Than a Limosine

In 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration caught something miraculous during their 10th dive with Windows to the Deep exploration. The otherworldly animal in this video is a Magnapinna atlantica, a bigfin squid rarely seen, let alone captured on camera. Its unmistakable tentacles and transparent mantle mark it as a deep-sea creature, but that’s not all you should know about this fascinating bigfin squid.

The Magnapinna Is Elusive

This sighting was monumental because the Magnapinna is one of the rarest cephalopods in the world. Its mere existence has even been questioned because of how deep in the ocean these squid live. While a similar species was discovered for the first time in 1907, the first recorded footage of the Magnapinna didn’t exist until 2001. It was recorded near Oahu, Hawaii, and swam nearly two miles below the surface. Magnapinnas have been found swimming from a mile and a half, like this one in NOAA’s video, to three miles below the ocean surface.

According to NOAA, these squid can swim deeper than any other known species. Their extraordinarily lithe fins help them float at these depths and function as underwater wings. They can propel themselves fairly quickly by sucking water into their mantles and expelling it. This helps them evade enemies and obstructions. Despite several sightings, not much is known about this mysterious squid.

It Has Unusual Tentacles

The most noticeable aspect of the Magnapinna is its long, spindly tentacles. It’s not unusual for deep-sea creatures to exhibit some odd physical features, but this squid is particularly bizarre. It’s relatively easy to tell which tentacles are which in other squids, but not with the Magnapinna. Most squid have eight arms and two tentacles, which have distinct purposes when moving and hunting. The Magnapinna has ten appendages, but there’s no way to determine their use because they all look identical.

Some experts believe the tentacles, unlike those of most squid species, have the sole purpose of capturing prey. However, Magnapinna appendages come out of their bodies at an angle. It’s presumed this keeps their long, skinny tentacles from tangling, but that has yet to be confirmed. Even more unusual is the body, which is composed of 90% fin, according to Ocean Conservancy. This is how these species earned the nickname of “bigfin squid.”

Another bizarre feature of this squid is the length of its tentacles. Juveniles and mature adults have been captured on film, and the length of their tentacles varies drastically. The Magnapinna‘s tentacles typically range from eight to 26 feet long. With such long appendages, it’s been seen walking along the ocean floor at depths only remotely-operated vehicles can reach. This video surfaced in 2024, showing a Magnapinna seemingly strolling at the bottom of the Tonga Trench. While it tugs at something off-camera, experts say the squid was likely out looking to feed.

Sightings Are Almost Always Accidental

Due to the depths at which Mangapinna squids live, seeing one with your own eyes would be nearly impossible. However, this isn’t a problem for remotely operated vehicles, or ROVs. They’re commonly used at oil drilling sites, which sit at a significant depth on the ocean floor. The elusive squid has been captured by several ROVs, which is how scientists gather information about this rare species.

An ROV in the Gulf of Mexico captured unique footage of a Magnapinna from a close distance, showing off its large mantle. In this video, you can see its fins undulating, moving the squid from side to side. This is not the first time an ROV has captured footage of a Magnapinna in the Gulf, meaning it could be a hotspot for the species. This moment was recorded at one of the world’s deepest oil drilling sites, which sits at a hadal zone depth that is impossible for humans to reach.

Are Magnapinnas Dangerous?

Given how little is known about the species, it’s hard to know if a Magnapinna would threaten humans. We know they have yet to interact with the ROVs that observe them. This implies the species is non-aggressive, at least not toward large obstructions in their territory. This is also compounded by the fact that humans will never be able to reach the depths where Magnapinnas dwell. Therefore, we can safely assume they’re no threat to humans due to the sheer unlikelyness of the two species ever crossing paths.

While this squid might not harm humans, that’s not to say it isn’t an efficient predator. Their exact hunting methods are unknown, but scientists believe they hunt in one of two ways. The first is by dragging their long tentacles along the seafloor in the hopes of trapping organic matter. The second is by suspending themselves in the water, awaiting prey to get caught in their tentacles. Surprising footage of the latter surfaced in 2023. In this video, we see a Magnapinna appearing to actively attack prey that has been caught in its long tentacles. This squid was estimated to be one of the largest to date, although it’s nearly impossible to confirm without anything for comparison. If nothing else, this rare footage shows that we have much more to learn about the elusive Magnapinna.