Great white sharks might engage in battles with giant squid

The next great white shark documentary I'd like to see is the one in which the apex predators dive to the deepest, darkest depths of the mid-Pacific and wage battle with giant squid.

It's not yet in production, however, and this phenomenon might not even occur. But at least one scientist, Michael Domeier of the Marine Conservation Science Institute, believes the presence of squid is at least part of what draws white sharks to a vast expanse of open ocean each winter.

The sharks in question are those that gather seasonally each fall at Guadalupe Island off Baja California and the Farallon Islands west of San Francisco. Tagging efforts at both locations have tracked the predators to a largely featureless and nonproductive area halfway between Baja California and Hawaii.

An L.A. Times story begins: "In what could be the ultimate marine smack-down, great white sharks off the California coast may be migrating 1,600 miles west to do battle with creatures that rival their star power: giant squids."

The only evidence cited in the story is the presence of squid and sperm whales in the mid-Pacific area--sperm whales are known to prey on jumbo squid and giant squid--and the discovery of a giant squid carcass that looked to have been chewed on.

Other scientists believe more research is needed to conclude that squid are what's luring sharks offshore. Someday they'll find out, though, and maybe it will be captured on film.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: David Fleetham / Discovery Channel

Comments

[George Probst]

I'm not holding my breath on that documentary ever happening, especially considering the quality of the limited footage of live giant squid that's currently available. I'm not buying into Domeier's theory without any kind of solid evidence.

PS Sorry to hear about the LA Times layoffs. I often enjoyed your blog on the LA Times site and am glad to see you're still keeping things going here!