Deep sea octopus "Dumbo" is back!

November 7, 2018 Researchers film deep-sea octopus Grimpoteuthis

In a research dive during an expedition with the "E / V Nautilus" in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of California, scientists observed a deep-sea octopus. Deep down in the deep sea near the Davidson Seamount a deep-sea octopus swam directly in front of the camera; the scientists were mesmerized by the ghost-like octopus.

Dumbo is back! The ghost-like octopus drifted past the camera of the ROV Hercules, flapping its wing-like fins. Then he twisted his webbing and swelled to reveal his eight rows of suckers. The rare animal - also known as umbrella octopus (Grimpoteuthis) – had a size of about 60 cm in length.

Dumbo got its name from a Walt Disney animated film character: A flying elephant with big ears. The deep-sea Dumbo can change colour and lives mostly in depths of 3,000 to 4,000 meters. The species lives pelagic, that is, it stays in the water column, benthic zone (bottom of the sea) contact is rare: for oviposition and feeding. The octopuses feed mainly on crustaceans, mussels, worms and small crabs.

Up to now there is not much known about the species. Researchers were able to film the animals hatching just recently - we reported.

More Information: https://nautiluslive.org.

Video: https://youtu.be/ayCdTH7k6eU