More than 90% of the earth’s living species are aquatic and the ocean is now home to more than 2 million marine species in the world. Yet, it might be shocking to figure out that only 9% of the ocean has been explored and analyzed by humans. Every year, scientists spend thousands of hours exploring it and discover hundreds of marine animals. These found
animals are so incredible with such interesting characteristics and strange appearances. Today, let’s meet the lovely Dumbo Octopus, one of the deepest octopuses in the world.
Source: ©1999 MBARI
The Dumbo Octopus, which is also known as Grimpoteuthis, is a genus of pelagic umbrella octopuses. Because of their special fins, they’re named after a famous Disney character. Their ear-like fins near the eyes look exactly like the ears of the animated elephant Dumbo.
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
The species was first discovered around 1883, but it was not until the deep-sea submersible vessels were invented in the 1900s that they found the octopus’s first specimen.
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
In comparison to other octopods, the dumbo octopus is small, with an average length of 20 to 30 cm. Along with their tiny form, these ocean residents have short legs, bell-shaped bodies, pale coloring, and a tendency to hover over the seafloor. They can camouflage themselves, which is helpful when they're attempting to hide from their natural predators, like sharks.
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
These octopuses also come in different shapes. Female octopuses have more gelatinous bodies than males do, and their length are also longer. Besides, their arms are more prevalent and they have U-shaped shells with larger eyes.
Source: ©1999 MBARI
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
They’re living in the deepest areas of the ocean. The average depth that most Dumbo Octopus live is up to 13,000 feet below the surface. Some are even found at the extreme depth of the ocean (23,000 feet). These creatures are determined not to be able to survive outside of the highly pressurized waters of the deep sea. Due to their unusual living environment, these octopuses have very incredible adaptations.
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
They propel themselves through the water by flapping their strong fins, not by expelling water forcefully from their siphons—a process called jet propulsion—as other octopuses do. Webbing between their arms aids them in swimming.
Source: Nautilus Live
They are “cirrate” octopuses, a group of deep-sea octopuses that have slender protrusions trailing from their suckers called cirri. The role of cirri is not known, but it’s thought to have something to do with feeding. Their main foods are snails, worms, and other creatures they hoover up from the ocean floor.
Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH
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