Home / Science / Tiny Blue Octopus Discovered Near Galápagos
Tiny Blue Octopus Discovered Near Galápagos
27 May
Summary
- A rare blue octopus, golf ball-sized, was found.
- It was discovered 5,800 feet deep near Galápagos Islands.
- The new species is named Microeledone galapagensis.
Marine biologists were thrilled by the discovery of a rare, golf ball-sized blue octopus. This unique cephalopod was found at a remarkable depth of 5,800 feet in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The discovery was made near the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, by a remotely operated submersible. Researchers noted its tiny size and striking blue color, leading to its classification as a never-before-seen species.
Designated Microeledone galapagensis, a name referencing its island locale, the octopus was collected during a deep-sea expedition in 2015. Its description was published in the science journal Zootaxa on May 26.
Scientists studied the single specimen noninvasively using thousands of CT scans. This allowed them to create a detailed 3D model of the octopus and its internal structures without dissection.
