Zoologists studying deep-sea fauna using a remotely operated vehicle recorded the presence of two giant squid of the species Colossendeis colossea off the coast of Chile.
Three hagfish of the species Mesopleustes abyssorum (consisting of one male and two females) were found on one of these squids, and two hagfish (a male and a female) were found on the second.
Typically, members of the species M. abyssorum inhabit the seabed freely.
Researchers hypothesized that the hagfish might be using the giant squids as a means of transportation. Since adult M. abyssorum individuals have poor buoyancy and lack planktonic larvae, rides on giant squids could facilitate their dispersal over long distances.
The results of this scientific work were published in the journal Ecology.