‘Dumbo’ Octopus Living in Pacific Discovered; Researchers Say They Formed Habitat 7,000 Deep

An international group of scientists recently identified a new kind, the 'Grimpoteuthis' family, also known as 'Dumbo octopus,' in the northern portion of the Emperor Seamounts, an underwater mountain range the northern Pacific Ocean.

According to an MRT report, the new species were identified using technology and non-invasive approaches.

In their study, the researchers detailed the 'Grimpoteuthis imperator' was plausible following analysis of a series of high-field magnetic resonance images. More so, they also computed tomography, complemented with a genetic evaluation of the tissue.

The findings of the analyses in the study, Holistic description of new deep sea megafauna (Cephalopoda: Cirrata) using a minimally invasive approach, published in the BMC Biology journal showed that the examined samples presented variations in the gills, digestive tract, and shell, on top of the differences in the sensory organs and nervous system, with respect to other octopuses in the same octopus family, confirming it was indeed a new species.

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Species Description

The study authors said, different from the traditional approaches or methods used to describe species, which are through dissection, the use of images, as well as slightly invasive genetic assessment, allow for "more complete taxonomic description" of large zoological samples minus causing damage to the specimens examined, which exemplifies a great advance in the conservation of ecosystems.

In a similar report, Phys.org specified that the study investigators identified details that include shell and gill shape, digestive tract morphology, and tinier structures like the sensory organs and nervous system.

They could also identify morphological characters so far, not applied in the octopus species' description, like the systemic heart's shape.

Specifically, through the use of micro-CT, which is more appropriate compared to MRI for chitinous tissues' visualization, the researchers were able to build the first-ever interactive 3D model of a cephalopod beak.

'Grimpoteuthis' Species

Features or characteristics, which include the position of fin, a form of a shell, and length of the arm, identified the sample as belonging to genus Grimpoteuthis.

Nonetheless, the study specified the number of suckers, half-orange-shaped gills, and details of the shell separate or differentiated it from all formerly described species of Grimpoteuthis.

According to Alexander Ziegler, the sets of data from the MRI and micro-CT they have obtained and available in public from the repository MorphoBank could be used for additional analyses that would not have been plausible extent through the use of conventional, invasive approaches.

This may enable other study authors to draw conclusions about the hard-to-observe or monitor sea organisms' behavior.

Dumbo Octopus Facts

The MRT report said, finned octopus, also known as Dumbo octopuses, are considered extraordinary organisms, and their sightings are unusual.

Furthermore, according to Oceana, Dumbo octopuses live in the deep open ocean down to approximately 13,100 feet deep, and probably much deeper, making this species the deepest living of all known octopuses.

Life at these life-threatening depths needs the ability to live in extremely cold water, as well as in the full absence of sunlight.

Generally, Dumbo octopuses are naturally rare, and the deep sea is gigantic, so these species are characterized with unique behaviors to an increased likelihood that they can reproduce successfully anytime they find a mate.

As for this discovery, experts have said, they are forming an essential part of the megafauna of deep-sea habitats, up to approximately 7,000 meters deep.

Related information on Dumbo octopus is shown on National Geographic's YouTube video below: