We present HI images for the dust-lane elliptical galaxy NGC 5266. This galaxy contains more than 1010M☉ of HI and our data show that the neutral hydrogen extends to ∼8 arcmin each side of the nucleus, or eight times the optical half-light radius Re. Surprisingly, the outer HI gas extends almost orthogonally to the optical dust lane. The overall HI kinematics can be successfully modelled by assuming that the gas hes in two orthogonal planes—in the plane of the dust lane in the central parts and perpendicular to this in the outer regions. The large amount of neutral gas observed and the HI morphology suggest that this object may have formed from the merger of two gas rich spiral galaxies. If so, it probably represents a relatively old merger remnant since most of the HI appears settled. The mass-to-light ratio has also been derived, with evidence for a dark matter halo around this galaxy.
