#colossalsquid #Mesonychoteuthis #hamiltoni (#Oegopsida) is a #deepsea fish predator sized up to 14 m long (#abyssalgigantism). Special features (#apomorphies): #hooked #arms/tentacles, largest known animal #eyes (27–30 cm). The first #alive #filmed evidence in April 2025 (link).

©#StefanFWirth 2025

Reference

https://youtu.be/lzPoG9H8Hlo?si=V8eDNUrJJT7RoDlP

Photos
1) illustration Citron/CC-BY-SA-3.0, free documentation license
2) specimen in Te Papa Museum, NZ, by Y23, 2009, cre. comm. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

#Histiostomatidae #mites phoretically attach arthropods, having e.g. these #apomorphies (newly evolved features): #filtermouth in free stages and forward-facing #legs 3,4 of #deutonymphs, supporting #attaching/#detaching #host. #Images = my current #research

© #StefanFWirth 2025

Related papers

S. F. Wirth 2016
https://doi.org/10.21684/0132-8077-2016-24-2-97-111

S. F. Wirth 2023,  pp 102-103
https://doi.org/10.4060/cc6728en

#Photos
1) sideview mouth adult H. sp ex tree stump (2022) 2) deutonymph B. #sibirica (2016) © S. F. W.