Giant Squid Detected via eDNA in Western Australia's Deep Canyons

In March 2026, a research article in Environmental DNA reported the discovery of a rare giant squid among 226 species surveyed using environmental DNA (eDNA) in the deep marine canyons off Western Australia's Ningaloo coast. The study, spearheaded by Georgia Nester, a molecular ecologist at the University of Western Australia, involved the collection of nearly 200 water samples at depths reaching 2.8 miles during a spring 2020 expedition on the RV Falkor of the Schmidt Ocean Institute. This analysis identified the giant squid in both Cape Range and Cloates canyons, marking the species' third scientific sighting in Western Australian waters and the first in over 25 years, as noted by co-author Lisa Kirkendale from the Western Australian Museum. Additionally, new species, such as the faceless cusk eel and sleeper shark, along with deep-diving whales like the Pygmy sperm whale and Cuvier's beaked whale, were documented. Each depth exhibited unique taxa, highlighting distinct biodiversity in the canyons. The study underscores the advantages of eDNA in detecting rare and delicate species without the need for capture, providing essential baseline data for future conservation initiatives in these areas.