Who Is The Lovedest Resident Of The Deep Sea?

More than 90% of the world's living species are aquatic, and the ocean presently supports over 2 million marine species. However, it may come as a surprise to learn that humans have only studied and evaluated 9% of the ocean. Scientists spend thousands of hours exploring it each year, discovering hundreds of marine creatures. These discovered species are extraordinary, with unusual qualities and appearances. Today, we'll meet the charming Dumbo Octopus, one of the world's deepest octopuses.

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The Dumbo Octopus, also known as Grimpoteuthis, is a pelagic umbrella octopus genus. They're called after a famous Disney character because of their unique fins. Their ear-like fins around the eyes are identical to those of the animated elephant Dumbo.

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Read more: Enjoy The Beauty Of Enchanting Blue-Eyed Cremello Horse In A Field Of Lupines

The Dumbo Octopus, also known as Grimpoteuthis, is a pelagic umbrella octopus genus. They're called after a famous Disney character because of their unique fins. Their ear-like fins around the eyes are identical to those of the animated elephant Dumbo. 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: OctoNation

The dumbo octopus is small in compared to other octopods, with an average length of 20 to 30 cm. These water creatures have small legs, bell-shaped bodies, pale pigmentation, and a tendency to linger over the seafloor, in addition to their diminutive size. They can camouflage themselves, which is useful when trying to avoid natural predators like sharks.

Source: Smithsonian Ocean

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. 

They live in the ocean's deepest depths. Most Dumbo Octopus reside at depths of up to 13,000 feet below the surface. Some have even been discovered at the deepest depths of the ocean (23,000 feet). These animals are determined not to survive outside of the deep sea's highly pressured conditions. These octopuses have extraordinary adaptations due to their peculiar living habitat.

Source: NOAA OFFICE OF OCEAN EXPLORATION AND RESEARCH

They move through the water by flapping their powerful fins, rather than by expelling water violently from their siphons, like other octopuses do. Swimming is aided by the webbing between their arms. They are "cirrate" octopuses, a type of deep-sea octopus with slender protrusions called cirri trailing from their suckers. Cirri's function is unknown, but it is considered to be related to feeding. Their primary sources of nutrition include snails, worms, and other animals found on the ocean floor.

Do you believe the ocean is a fantastic realm teeming with thousands of beautiful animals? If you're looking for more amazing animal facts, come to our homepage right now!