Rare ‘Alien’ Bigfin Squid Filmed 2 Miles Deep Off California (Video)
Deep beneath the ocean's surface, a team of researchers exploring the abyssal seafloor offshore of Central California stumbled upon an extraterrestrial-looking creature.
Hovering roughly two miles underwater near the Davidson Seamount, scientists aboard the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) research vessel David Packard encountered an incredibly rare deep-sea bigfin squid, also known as Magnapinna .
Check it out below.
The alien-like creature glided gracefully through the darkness in the viral video , undulating two large fins and trailing long, spindly appendages. As noted in the video's official caption, the sighting was truly extraordinary:
"During a recent expedition aboard MBARI's flagship research vessel David Packard to study seamounts offshore of Central California, MBARI scientists and NOAA collaborators encountered a rarely seen deep-sea bigfin squid (Magnapinna sp.). Only about 70 bigfin squid have ever been observed or collected, so the control room aboard R/V David Packard was abuzz with excitement for this unique encounter."
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Spotted at a staggering depth of 3,277 meters, or roughly two miles underwater, the sighting marked the first confirmed live observation of this elusive squid in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Measuring over four feet long, the squid's otherworldly appearance instantly caught the team's attention. MBARI Postdoctoral Fellow Olívia Soares Pereira recalled the heart-pounding moment:
"I thought it might be a cool jelly, but as soon as the little 'elbows' appeared, I knew exactly who this was and immediately screamed 'Magnapinna!' before the rest of the squid even came into the screen. It was incredibly exciting!"
The rare deep-sea bigfin squid is famous for its bizarre morphology, utilizing trailing arms and tentacles to filter feed in the pitch-black abyss. Andrew DeVogelaere, a NOAA research ecologist on the expedition, described the animal as "an elegant creature with undulating, angel-like 'wings'."
For researchers, capturing this alien-like cephalopod on high-definition video serves as a thrilling reminder of the ocean's unexplored frontiers. With so few recorded sightings globally, this fleeting two-mile-deep encounter highlights the endless mysteries that still await discovery in the deep blue.
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This story was originally published by Surfer on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
