Russian sailors film live giant squid surfacing and eating near fishing trawler

THEY’RE creatures of the depths, rarely seen alive. But now sailors have filmed one of these monsters surfacing next to their boat, searching for a quick meal.

THEY’RE creatures of the depths, rarely seen by human eyes. Existing images of giant squids usually depict the animals once they’re dead and washed up on a beach, a mess of bleached, gelatinous tentacles.

But this footage shows something altogether more amazing: a live giant squid surfacing near a fishing trawler and attempting to feast on the day’s catch.

What a beauty ... the squid eventually gives up on its quest for an easy fish meal.

Russian sailors filmed the marine monster and uploaded it to the web earlier this week.

The clip shows the squid grappling with a fish that the sailors have caught. The fishers are forced to defend the catch of the day with the aid of a long pole which they use to prod the animal.

The footage shows the squid from several angles as it lolls about on the surface before submerging.

Did someone order the calamari? ... A giant squid washed up on a beach on New Zealand's South Island in May. Picture: Facebook/Kaikoura Marine Centre and Aquarium.

It is unclear whether the animal is a giant squid, which grows up to 14 metres in length, or a colossal squid, which tends to be just slightly shorter (13 metres in length), but with a fatter midsection.

Far from being one species, the group of animals generally referred to as giant squids include a number of varieties. Other members of the species include the 4-metre cockatoo squid, and the two-metre long robust clubhook squid.

A dead colossal squid (scientific name Mesonychoteuthis hamiltoni) discovered in Antarctic waters in 2007 weighed 495 kilograms and 10 meters long.

The remains of a giant squid measuring about four metres that was discovered by Daily Telegraph fishing columnist Al McGlashan off Jervis Bay in 2013.

An unidentified New Zealand fisherman poses with the 495 kilogra colossal squid discovered in Antarctic waters in 2007. Picture: New Zealand Fisheries Department