Rare Sighting of Blanket Octopus With Rainbow Hues Captured in the Great Barrier Reef

A blanket octopus was recently observed to hover on the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The rare species traveled around the region near Lady Elliot Island, a spot in which marine life is known to flourish.

The infrequent appearance of the blanket octopus was fortunately recorded by marine biology who was snorkeling that day. The rare aquatic creature was known to spend most of its time swimming around the great depths of the open ocean, where they can move quickly and freely on a vast space.

Blanket Octopus in Open Waters of Great Barrier Reef

Australia's Deadliest Animals — SYDNEY, NSW - JANUARY 24: A Blue Ring Octopus is pictured at Oceanworld Aquarium January 24, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. This Octopus has venom called cephalotoxin, and is composed from enzymes in the salivary gland in its mouth. The venom is a neuromuscular paralysing toxin, where nerve conduction in the victim is blocked, followed by paralysis, then death if no medical treatment is sought. Often the bite is painless, and therefore goes unnoticed. The Blue Ring Octopus is so named because of its iridescent blue rings, indicating its deadly nature to predators. Australia is home to some of the most deadly and poisonous animals on earth. Ian Waldie/Getty Images

Jacinta Shackle, a marine biology expert, spotted a rare sighting of the magnificent blanket octopus. She noticed the twirling of the marine animal because it was right near their location when they were in Great Barrier Reef.

According to a report by DailyMail, the scientist was in the middle of their snorkeling session near the coast of Queensland when the species popped out of nowhere. The expert saw how the blanket octopus swam through the open waters with its unique physical appearance that boasts rainbow hues.

Shackleton said in a report that the cape colors of the blanket octopus were fascinating to see up close as it moved underwater, giving them an incredible sight to remember. The expert admitted they thought that the species could just be some random juvenile fish that had a structure accompanied by long fins.

But when they got closer, Shakleton's examination revealed that it was actually a rare blanket octopus. The scientist explained that she was overjoyed as she watched the animal swam pass through their snorkeling spot, leading to an uncontrollable amount of excitement. The marine biologist was so grateful for the unique encounter with the blanket octopus, as seeing one is considered in the field as a 'once in a lifetime' event.

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Blanket Octopus: A Brief Background

A recording was set to capture the sighting and analyze the animal in future studies. Although some features of the creature were observed, Shackleton could not relay any details about the size of the species. The blanket octopus (Tremoctopus) that Shackleton saw was female and they could grow up to six feet long.

On the other hand, a male blanket octopus comes in size similar to a walnut. According to experts, the males usually die after mating with their partners.

The blanket octopus, according to Shackleton, has a swimming routine in which it swirls or floats around certain parts of the open ocean where it is undisturbed. Due to the remote location of these regions, the appearance of the blanket octopus is rarely caught.

In 1963, the blanket octopus was first discovered. Its name was inspired by its anatomical structure, where a sheet of webbing is stretched between some of its tentacles. When a predator approaches, the marine animal opens its arms wide open, creating a blanket-like appearance that could confuse or spook the animal away. Alongside its protective arms, the blanket octopus can also undergo a camouflaged state when it attaches to stones or simply hovers underwater.