Rare whiplash squid
© NOAAThe majestic creature, which is around one to two meters long, is called Taningia Danae or whiplash squid. Experts said the sighting in September was a one in a million event as the whiplash squid is rarely seen alive.
This is the magical moment that National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists captured footage of a rare deep sea squid.

The majestic sea creature, which is around one to two meters long, is called 'Taningia Danae' or 'whiplash squid.'

As it descended to the sea floor of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii on September 19, 2015 a remotely operated underwater vehicle caught it on camera.

Showing off a bright hue of pink as it swam through the deep blue ocean, scientists said it can emit a bright light. This, they believe, is used to blind prey, measure distance or signal courtship.

Experts said that the sighting in September was a one in a million event as the whiplash squid is rarely seen alive.

Scott France, Co-Science lead points out that the 'funnel on the lower side of the squid which looks like red lips is actually where water is taken in.'


'It is ejected from the mantle cavity and it's used for propulsion, to propel it backwards,' he adds.

France, an associate professor of Biology at University of Louisiana at Lafayette studies the evolution of deep-sea invertebrates.

He said that the squid can travel between two to two-and-a-half miles per hour.

During this expedition the deep sea creature attached itself to the back of Deep Discovery - the remotely operated underwater vehicle- and then swam around to the front.

According to IQ Science, this mission was the first time scientists had examined this part of the deep ocean before, and managed to see two whiplash squid on the same mission.

The researchers noted that the squid seemed attracted to the lights on their vehicle, and exhibited typically aggressive behavior, though they are unsure of exactly why that would be.

Scientists are using the close-up footage to learn more about the sea creature as it it rarely seen alive.