• News
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Planet Earth
  • Strange News
  • Animals
  • History
  • Culture
  • Space
Live Science
  • News
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Planet Earth
  • Strange News
  • Animals
  • History
  • Culture
  • Space
Live Science
News Tech Health Planet Earth Strange News Animals History Culture Space
  • Live Science
  • Animals

Photos: Ghostly Dumbo Octopus Dances In the Deep Sea

By Christine Lunsford | November 2, 2018 07:10am ET
  • MORE

A rare sight

A rare sight

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

During the Oct. 23, 2018 dive of the ROV Hercules, part of the Nautilus exploration program, a cirrate octopod of the Grimpoteuthis species swam into view. Using the scaling lasers aboard the ROV, the research team estimated the animal to be less than 2 feet (60 centimeters) long. [Watch the video of the ghostly dumbo octopus.]

Graceful creature

Graceful creature

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Commonly known as the dumbo octopus, the animal was traveling at about 10,870 feet (3313 meters) below the surface of the ocean at the Davidson Seamount.

A frightful apparition

A frightful apparition

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Almost ghostly in appearance, the cirrate octopus floated past the camera, using its wing-like fins to move.

Just keep swimming...

Just keep swimming...

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Flapping its fins, the nearly 2-foot long (61 centimeters) octopus maneuvered its way through the water inside the boundaries of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

An exciting capture

An exciting capture

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The sighting of this elegant animal took place on the first dive of the Nautilus expedition. Read more about the expedition at the Nautilus website.

Dancing and swimming

Dancing and swimming

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The expedition, scheduled to last from Oct. 21-31, 2018, aims to report on the life in the deep-water region southeast of Davidson Seamount, which is located off the coast of Monterey, California.

Revealing secrets

Revealing secrets

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The octopod has also been called the umbrella octopus. The animal treated researchers to a view of its web, revealing each of its eight sucker-covered arms.

By any other name

By any other name

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Grimpoteuthis has paired sets of finger-like muscular structures called cirri which span the entire length of the tentacles. The cirri help capture prey.

Showing off

Showing off

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The octopod gives the ROV a great view of its eight arms, web and cirri.

Tentacles everywhere

Tentacles everywhere

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

This particular creature was filmed in a section of the Davidson Seamount that was previously unexplored. It was one of many octopods spotted on the dive. See more images of the plethora of octopuses.

Teams of researchers

Teams of researchers

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Nautilus team includes scientists, ROV pilots, navigator, data logger, video engineer and science communicator. Each team rotation employs nine people.

Lots to do

Lots to do

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Nautilus crew has eight objectives for its 10-day mission that range from surveying the Davidson Seamount to collecting and analyze water and sea life samples.

Life in the deep

Life in the deep

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The dumbo octopus swims and drifts through out the field of view of a camera aboard the ROV Hercules.

Deep-sea life

Deep-sea life

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The enchanting creature calmly flapped its two large fins as it cruised slowly through the dark.

You'd Also Like

  • Meet the Leggy Deep-Sea Worms Named for Hodor and Arya Stark From 'Game of Thrones'

    LiveScience
  • Photos: Deep Sea Expedition Discovers a Plethora of Octopuses

    LiveScience
  • Ghostly Dumbo Octopus Makes Rare Appearance in Dazzling Deep-Sea Video

    LiveScience
  • Why a Seal Smacked Kayaker in the Face with an Octopus

    LiveScience
previous | next

A rare sight

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

During the Oct. 23, 2018 dive of the ROV Hercules, part of the Nautilus exploration program, a cirrate octopod of the Grimpoteuthis species swam into view. Using the scaling lasers aboard the ROV, the research team estimated the animal to be less than 2 feet (60 centimeters) long. [Watch the video of the ghostly dumbo octopus.]

Graceful creature

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Commonly known as the dumbo octopus, the animal was traveling at about 10,870 feet (3313 meters) below the surface of the ocean at the Davidson Seamount.

A frightful apparition

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Almost ghostly in appearance, the cirrate octopus floated past the camera, using its wing-like fins to move.

Just keep swimming...

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

Flapping its fins, the nearly 2-foot long (61 centimeters) octopus maneuvered its way through the water inside the boundaries of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

An exciting capture

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The sighting of this elegant animal took place on the first dive of the Nautilus expedition. Read more about the expedition at the Nautilus website.

Dancing and swimming

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The expedition, scheduled to last from Oct. 21-31, 2018, aims to report on the life in the deep-water region southeast of Davidson Seamount, which is located off the coast of Monterey, California.

Revealing secrets

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The octopod has also been called the umbrella octopus. The animal treated researchers to a view of its web, revealing each of its eight sucker-covered arms.

By any other name

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Grimpoteuthis has paired sets of finger-like muscular structures called cirri which span the entire length of the tentacles. The cirri help capture prey.

Showing off

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The octopod gives the ROV a great view of its eight arms, web and cirri.

Tentacles everywhere

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

This particular creature was filmed in a section of the Davidson Seamount that was previously unexplored. It was one of many octopods spotted on the dive. See more images of the plethora of octopuses.

Teams of researchers

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Nautilus team includes scientists, ROV pilots, navigator, data logger, video engineer and science communicator. Each team rotation employs nine people.

Lots to do

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The Nautilus crew has eight objectives for its 10-day mission that range from surveying the Davidson Seamount to collecting and analyze water and sea life samples.

Life in the deep

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The dumbo octopus swims and drifts through out the field of view of a camera aboard the ROV Hercules.

Deep-sea life

Credit: Ocean Exploration Trust/NOAA

The enchanting creature calmly flapped its two large fins as it cruised slowly through the dark.

Science Newsletter: Subscribe
Follow Us
Most Popular
  1. Researchers developed a new type of DNA in the lab that is made up of eight letters, rather than the natural four.

    Scientists Have Created Synthetic DNA with 4 Extra Letters

  2. Mighty T. Rex Began As Cute, Deer-Size Dino

  3. In this stock image, a ballistic missile launches from underwater.

    Hawaii's False Missile Alert Shows Americans Have No Idea What to Do in Nuclear Attack

  4. Neutrino art

    What Are Neutrinos?

  5. A morchella (morel) mushroom

    A Woman Died After Reportedly Eating Prized Mushrooms at Fancy Restaurant in Spain

HomeAbout Us
Company
  • Company Info
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Using Our Content
  • Licensing & Reprints
  • Terms of Use
  • Copyright Policy
  • Privacy Policy
Network
  • Top Ten Reviews
  • Tom's Guide
  • Laptop Mag
  • Tom's Hardware
  • Space.com
  • Live Science
  • AnandTech
  • Dignifyed
FOLLOW US
Subscribe
Purch

Copyright © All Rights Reserved.