WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A colossal half-ton squid, believed to bethe largest ever caught, may be destined for the microwave oven.But researchers say they don't want to cook the massive creature —just defrost it so they can study it better.Scientists at New Zealand's national museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, havetaken possession of the beast that took fishermen two hours to landafter it was netted by chance in Antarctic waters last month and wasfrozen soon afterward to preserve it.Expert Steve O'Shea said the squid had weighed in at 1,089 poundsand measured 33 feet long — heavier but shorter than initialestimates of 990 lbs and 39 feet.It appears to be by far the largest specimen of the rare andmysterious deep-water species Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni, orcolossal squid, ever caught.Experts say the creatures, which have long been one of the mostmysterious denizens of the deep ocean, may grow even bigger — up to46 feet long.O'Shea said scientists at the museum are considering using a giantmicrowave oven as a possible way to defrost the animal so they canstudy it.The mammoth squid could not be left to defrost at room temperaturebecause the process would take days, leaving the outside to rotwhile the core remained frozen, he said."There are certain microwave equivalents that are used by industry,for treating timber and the like, that we could probably fit thisthing into," O'Shea said. "But that is just one option."At the time it was caught, O'Shea said it would make calamari ringsthe size of tractor tyres if cut up — but they would taste likeammonia.Colossal squid can descend to 6,500 feet and are known to beextremely active, aggressive hunters. O'Shea said the squid ispriceless to scientists, and would be worth many millions of dollarsif insured.
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