In a recent discovery lead by renowned marine biologist Steve O'Shea, the remains of what scientists believe is the largest octopus ever seen, a four-meter (13-foot) long giant, were hauled from the depths near New Zealand's remote Chatham Islands.  The dead specimen, caught in a trawler's net, was badly damaged, but it was in good enough condition to clearly see that it was indeed a massive animal.

"It would easily have been four-plus meters (about 13 feet) in total length and a weight of 70-75 kilograms (154-165 pounds), if not more," says O'Shea.  "It's a very big octopus, the size of a fully mature male giant squid."

Identified as Haliphron Atlanticus, a bright red, jelly-like species of octopus not previously found in the South Pacific, juveniles of the species had previously been found in shallow northern waters, with adults believed to live at a depth of around 250 meters.  This one, however, was snagged at a depth of the 300 meters, so according to O'Shea, the discovery was unusual.

"But down here in New Zealand, this is an area which is so poorly explored that its not surprising that we're getting all these weird and wonderful animals.  The frightening thing is that we are getting an animal like this newly reported in New Zealand waters today ... so new and large, you've got to sit down and ask yourself 'What is it we know about the deep sea environment?'," O'Shea said.

Oh, what a valid question he makes, a question TrueAuthority.com has been making ever since our beginning.

New Insect Order Found In Southern Africa
by Jonathan Drake
TrueAuthority.com

For the first time in 87 years, researchers have discovered an insect that constitutes a new order of insects.  Dubbed "the gladiator", it lives in the Brandberg Mountains of Namibia, on the west coast of Southern Africa, and resembles "a cross between a stick insect, a mantid, and a grasshopper."

The new insect grows to about 4 meters (1.6 inches) long, and is both nocturnal and carnivorous.

"This discovery is comparable to finding a mastodon or saber-toothed tiger," says Piotr Naskrecki, director of Conservation International's new Invertebrate Diversity Initiative.

According to Oliver Zompro, a specialist in stick insects who identified the creature, the find was a lucky one.  "So many zoologists all over the world have combed the earth for new specimens in so many locations that the chance of finding a new order is close to zero," he said.

The discovery of the new insect order, which has been named Mantophasmatodea, increases the number of insect orders to 31.  No new order of insects has been identified since 1915.

Shark Repellant For Swimmers Debuts
by Jonathan Robison
TrueAuthority.com

Yeah, it sounds crazy, but it's true.  An Australian firm unveiled an electronic shark repellant unit last month that attaches to a swimmer's ankle and emits an electronic field to ward off sharks.  Originally used to protect tri-athletes in Sydney Harbor during the 2000 Olympics and worn by abalone divers, the personal anti-shark unit weighs one pound and has a battery life of two hours.

How much for this coveted ocean protector?  240 bucks, and to some it's worth it, simply because it really works.  Testing of the electronic shark repellant units in waters off South Australia and South Africa, both renowned Great White habitats, showed sharks were repelled at about six to nine feet from a swimmer.

"It puts out a very precise electrical field that sharks perceive because of a hunting sense they have," says Jerry Kleeman, managing director of SeaChange.  "So as sharks get closer to you they will veer away very rapidly as it becomes uncomfortable for them, but it doesn't cause them any lasting harm.  It also does not impact on any other marine creatures or humans."

Imagine yourself enjoying your day at the beach, leisurely treading water out in the ocean, when you suddenly spot the shadow of a 15-foot Great White coming straight at you.  "Work, you dumb machine . . . Work!" you say to yourself.  Just as the behemoth gets to a terrifying 6 feet from you, it stops, and violently thrashes in the opposite direction.  The shark didn't eat you, but honestly, how many people will not have passed out by that time? 

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