Giant Squid DNA Surfaces in Western Australia Canyons After 25 Years
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · May 6
Giant Squid DNA Surfaces in Western Australia Canyons After 25 Years
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · May 6
Summary
More than 25 years after Western Australia’s last giant squid sighting, a new study detected Architeuthis dux DNA in deep submarine canyons off the Ningaloo coast.
Over 1,000 samples taken from the Cape Range and Cloates canyons at depths of up to 14,797 feet used environmental DNA, letting researchers identify animals without seeing or capturing them.
The survey logged 226 species, including pygmy sperm whales, Cuvier’s beaked whales, sleeper sharks and deep-sea coral, while also flagging many DNA signatures that do not match current records.
Researchers said the find is Western Australia’s first giant squid eDNA record and the species’ northernmost record in the eastern Indian Ocean, underscoring how much deep-sea biodiversity remains undocumented.
Hundreds of new deep-sea species have been discovered. How many will vanish before we even know their names?
Giant squids and faceless eels were found via DNA. Will we ever see these deep-sea phantoms?
As we find new life with DNA, are our climate 'solutions' creating deep-sea dead zones?
Groundbreaking 2026 eDNA Survey Uncovers Giant Squid and Rich Biodiversity in WA’s Deep Ningaloo Canyons
Overview
In early 2026, researchers from Curtin University and the University of Western Australia made a landmark discovery by detecting the giant squid in Western Australian waters using environmental DNA (eDNA) during the Schmidt Ocean Institute's Falkor expedition. This finding, the first in over 25 years and the northernmost in the eastern Indian Ocean, was part of a broader survey that identified 226 marine species in the Ningaloo Canyons. The expedition combined advanced eDNA technology with physical specimen collection, providing a vital baseline for marine conservation. Amid growing threats like deep-sea mining and climate change, these insights are crucial for guiding adaptive marine park planning and long-term ecosystem monitoring.