of the world's leading experts on marine science.

Dr. Clyde Roper, from the renowned Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, will work with Aquarium scientists to learn more about the five-foot sea monster.

He is being called in by Aquarium curator Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer, who was handed the squid on Friday afternoon.

Carlton Robinson, a former North Village footballer, fished the squid out of shallow water near Jennings Lane, Flatts Inlet.

Dr. Sterrer said: "We only know of one other giant squid being washed up along Bermuda's shores so this really was a very rare find.

"The squid was barely alive when Carlton found it, but it was brilliant that he brought it in so we could take a look at it.

"We found out that it was a deep water squid and although it was dying, it was in perfect shape as a specimen. It was beautiful.'' Dr. Sterrer said the squid died just after being pulled ashore and had probably become stranded in cool, shallow water and lost body heat. "It would have become disorientated, paralysed and just got washed inshore,'' he added.

"We knew it was a Rhomboid Squid and they need the deep water to survive. But I'm no expert on squid and I'm going to speak to Dr. Roper about the discovery.''