Rare brooding squid filmed carrying eggs on deep-sea expedition off Chile
Autumn 2024 off Chile, Schmidt Ocean Institute’s underwater robot captured video of a female black-eyed squid (Gonatus_onyx) carrying a large egg mass for months, showcasing rare parental care in squid. The cluster can hold up to about 3,000 eggs, with water pumped over them to provide oxygen for six to nine months; after laying, the mother stops feeding and is likely to die once the hatchlings emerge, highlighting the perilous life of deep-sea brooders.