Giant Squid Detected in Western Australian Waters After 25 Years Using eDNA Technology

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The giant squid, a mysterious deep-sea creature, was again detected in Western Australian waters in May 2026.

This significant discovery was confirmed through environmental DNA (eDNA) research, marking the first time evidence of giant squid has been identified in the region in over 25 years using this innovative method.

The presence of the rare Architeuthis dux provides new insights into the deep-sea biodiversity off the Australian coast.

The research, led by Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, successfully collected DNA evidence of giant squid from six separate water samples.

The samples were taken from two deep-sea underwater canyons, Cape Range and Cloates, located off the coast of Nyinggulu (Ningaloo), approximately 1,200 kilometers north of Perth, Western Australia.

The expedition was conducted aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel, Falkor, which collected more than 1,000 water samples from depths of up to 4,510 meters.

Dr. Lisa Kirkendale, Head of Aquatic Zoology and Curator of Molluscs at the WA Museum, highlighted the importance of this discovery for our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems.

The study's lead author is Georgia Nester, whose work has been published in the journal Environmental DNA.

This discovery represents the first record of giant squid (Architeuthis dux) detected off the coast of Western Australia using an eDNA protocol.

Furthermore, it is also the northernmost record of the species in the eastern Indian Ocean.

The discovery's location in the Cape Range and Cloates submarine canyons, off the coast of Nyinggulu (Ningaloo), indicates a potential new habitat for this species.

Prior to this discovery, there had only been two confirmed records of giant squid in Western Australian waters, and no sightings or confirmed specimens had been recorded in over 25 years.

A team of researchers from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia, in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, has demonstrated how scientific collaboration and advanced technology can unlock the mysteries of the deep sea.

Scientists used environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques to identify giant squid without the need to see or capture the animals directly.

This method works by analyzing tiny genetic particles that the animals shed into the seawater, such as through skin, mucus, and feces.

This approach has proven to be a transformative tool for deep-sea research, enabling non-invasive and efficient species identification.

The advantage of eDNA lies in its ability to detect hundreds of species simultaneously from a single water sample.

With eDNA, researchers can obtain a comprehensive picture of an area's biodiversity with relatively little effort.

The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is one of the most astonishing creatures in the ocean.

This species can grow longer than a school bus, weigh up to 275 kilograms, and its eyes can be as large as a dinner plate or a large pizza.

In fact, the giant squid's eyes are the largest visual organs of any living creature on Earth, allowing them to see in the darkness of the deep sea.

These mysterious deep-sea creatures are rarely seen by humans because they live hundreds of meters below the ocean's surface.

Therefore, this eDNA detection is invaluable because it provides evidence of their presence in their natural habitat without the need for direct intervention.

In addition to the giant squid, the survey also detected a total of 226 species across 11 major animal groups.

Other discoveries include the pygmy sperm whale, Cuvier's beaked whale—known as the deepest-diving mammal—the sleeper shark, and the faceless cusk eel.