Scientists remotely surveying a previously unexplored area of the ocean located 80 miles southwest of Monterey, California, witnessed a magical spectacle. In the area around an underwater volcano at Davidson Seamount, the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) launched from the Exploration Vessel (E/V) Nautilus found a rarely seen ‘dumbo’ octopus. Thanks to this YouTube clip, you can share in the joy. Read on to find out more about this unique creature.
What Are Dumbo Octopuses?
Dumbo octopuses belong to the Grimpoteuthis genus of cephalopods. There are at least 17 known species, but there could be more. The largest grows to around 6 feet. As you can see from the clip, they have an otherworldly appearance that is mesmerizing. Their bell-shaped bodies appear whitish but are semi-translucent, and they have large eyes. Each arm has between 65 and 68 suckers, and they are flanked by cirri (hair-like projections). Their appearance is more gelatinous than other octopuses. But what makes them really different is the two fins toward the front of the body, which they use for propulsion. This is what makes it look like the Disney elephant from which it gets its name.
Deep Ocean Dwellers
The dumbo octopus lives at great depths.
©”Dumbo Octopus” by NOAA Ocean Exploration & Research is licensed under BY-SA 2.0. – Original / License
These creatures occupy the bathyal zone (3,300 to 13,000 ft) and the abyssal zone (13,000–20,000 ft) of the ocean. The abyssal zone is in perpetual darkness, with temperatures of 36–37 °F and water pressure of 11,000 psi. It is not exactly an easy place to survive. It is also suggested that they can live in the hadal zone, which is the deepest part of the ocean. Different species may inhabit different depths. In these harsh conditions, the dumbo octopus flaps their strong fins (supported by internal cartilage) to move forward and uses their eight limbs to steer.
Limited Prey and Predators
At these depths, there is a limited availability of food. Scientists think that the dumbo octopus feeds by using their cirri to waft floating morsels of food towards their mouth. Their prey is likely to be small and is most probably tiny mollusks, copepods, amphipods, isopods, and bivalves.
Predators are also few in number. Certain deep-sea sharks and large predatory fish may be able to pick them off in the depths. However, the lack of defensive characteristics seen in other cephalopods suggests that they are not preyed on that often. They do not have an ink sac and don’t appear to be able to move suddenly to evade an attack.
Unusual Reproduction
Dumbo octopuses have also developed unusual reproduction strategies to help them cope with the difficulties of finding a mate in these conditions. The females appear to have eggs in different stages of development. This allows them to mate and lay eggs at any time – when a mate happens to come along! This is different from most other octopuses, which have specific breeding seasons. It is also suspected that females can store sperm and use it when it suits them. It is important that we preserve these very special deep-sea habitats for creatures as amazing as these.
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