Rare Sighting Of Giant Squid In Japanese Bay

A giant squid that strayed from its normal habitat set onlookers abuzz when it swam near boats in a Japanese harbor. 

Video shows the elusive sea creature, believed to be a juvenile that hasn't reached full size, spent several hours close to the surface of Toyama Bay along the country's west coast on Christmas Eve. 

This particular bright red and white squid, captured in the above video footage, was about 12.1 feet long, whereas female adults, which are larger than males, reach roughly 40 feet. 

It's extremely rare to spot the deep sea creature, also known by its scientific name of architeuthis . They normally prowl waters at least hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface. It's unclear why this particular animal journeyed into the bay.

Though they've been the subject of lore for centuries, it was only in 2004 that scientists captured the first images of a giant squid in its natural habitat. It's more common to find carcasses of the animal washed ashore. 

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