Sea monster research delivers more questions than answers, says scientist

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In this photo released by Tsunemi Kubodera, a researcher with Japan\'s National Science Museum, a giant squid attacking a bait squid is being pulled up by his research team off the Ogasawara Islands, south of Tokyo, on Dec. 4, 2006. In recent years giant squid have made an appearance off the West Coast, and now new research is shining some light on the B.C. sea monsters and their siblings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Tsunemi Kubodera of the National Science Museum of Japan, HO **CREDIT MANDATORY, EDITORIAL USE ONLY**

VANCOUVER – They’re the stuff of myth and B-grade horror movies, giant tentacled sea monsters roaming the deep in search of prey.

In recent years giant squid have made an appearance off the West Coast, and now new research is shining some light on the B.C. sea monsters and their siblings.

A team headed by Danish researchers tested DNA samples from 43 giant squid from around the world — including a specimen from Newfoundland.

They were stunned to find that there is likely just a single species of the massive squid that migrates to oceans around the world.

Tom Gilbert, the lead researcher from the Natural History Museum of Denmark says the lack of genetic diversity leaves his team with more questions than answers.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has documented giant squid off the Canadian coasts.

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