Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Adorable Dumbo octopus makes surprise appearance on camera

The elusive creature lives deep beneath the ocean's surface.

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
October 30, 2018
in Animals, Biology, News

Credit: Giphy/YouTube.
Credit: Giphy/YouTube.

Thousands of feet below the ocean’s surface, scientists came across a dazzling sight with the help of the prying eye of an unmanned robotic submersible. Under a background of giggles and ovations, the video that the researchers recorded features an adorable-looking dumbo octopus, named so because its flapping fins on the side of its head resemble the famous Disney character.

There are 13 known species of dumbo octopuses (Grimpoteuthis), all of whom live close to the ocean floor at depths of 3,000 to 4,000 meters (9,800 to 13,000 feet). These small animals are easily recognizable by a pair of fins located on their mantle and webbing between their eight arms. Their favorite food is comprised of snails, worms, and other creatures that live on the ocean floor.

At such depths, catching a glimpse of a dumbo octopus is very rare, which explains all the “all my gosh!” reactions of the crew from the E/V Nautilus research vessel. The actual footage was shot by a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) named Hercules.

“Oh, and the world loves a dumbo,” one of the crew marveled. And I’m sure we all can agree.

While the researchers were enraptured by the eerie sight, they still made sure to study the animal. Lasers mounted on the ROV measured the deep-sea ghost at 60 cm (2 feet) long, which is on the hefty side as far as these species are concerned.

Although they were grateful for Dumbo’s visit, the researchers weren’t actually searching for it. Instead, they were tasked with surveying the Davidson Seamount, an extinct volcano in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

The Monterey Bay region where the Dumbo octopus was sighted is packed with corals, sponges, and numerous other invertebrates — a sort of ‘oasis of the deep’ that attracts all sorts of animals. Indeed such hotspots are teeming with life as the researchers would come to know. Only a few days after the Dumbo sighting, the Nautilus crew stumbled across an immense octopus nesting site where more than 1,000 mothers were nursing their young.

 

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. The iconic ‘Dumbo’ octopus stars in the deepest-ever octopus sighting
  2. The mysterious deep-sea Dumbo octopus hatchlings look just like adults [with video]
  3. Octopus is so cute that ‘Adorable’ might become its name
  4. Surprise, surprise: stricter gun control laws led to fewer fatalities while permissive ones get more people killed
  5. “I wanted to take a picture of an octopus… but the octopus took pictures of me”
Tags: deep sea lifedumbo octopusmarine biology

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW