Rare video shows giant squid cruising along Japanese harbour

Four metre giant squid filmed swimming near boat.

It is a rare sight to see a giant squid alive, let alone swimming near a boat. But, this 3.7 metre long Architeuthis squid made an appearance for a group of Japanese spectators on Christmas Eve.

The Architeuthis species can grow up to almost 13 metres long.

According to Motherboard, it was seen cruising next to a boat’s moorings in Toyama Bay on the west coast of Japan. The bay is usually associated for being a spawning ground for the firefly squid.

The giant orange and white squid was reportedly 3.7 metres long and nearly one metre wide.

Christopher Mah, a marine biologist based in Washington D.C., posted his thoughts on Twitter. Mah believes it is only the third video recorded of a giant squid; and suggests the usually deep-water creature was near the surface because it might be unwell.