The fleshy remains of what's thought to be a 25-foot sea creature are a rare find, said squid experts who greeted the discovery at the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor just before noon.
The giant squid, or Architeuthis, which can grow to 50 feet or more, is known to inhabit deep ocean waters, including the Monterey Bay, but don't often show up on the surface. Little is know about the habits of the creature.
Sean Van Sommeran and his crew with the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation found the dead animal about 20 miles offshore of Santa Cruz.
A necropsy is scheduled for Thursday, to positively identify the squid and assess more of its characteristics.
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