Scientists Identify New Deep-Sea Blue Octopus From Galapagos

Scientists have identified a new deep-sea octopus species from the Galapagos.

El Telegrafo reports that the small blue octopus was first seen during a 2015 deep-water expedition aboard the E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with the Charles Darwin Foundation (FCD) and the Galapagos National Park Directorate.

Where It Was Found

The crew used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to explore the seafloor near Darwin Island, at the northern end of the archipelago.

El Telegrafo reports that researchers noticed the octopus near a seamount at 1,768 meters below the ocean surface.

The specimen, described as about the size of a golf ball, was collected and taken to the Charles Darwin Research Station with other deep-sea specimens from the expedition.

How It Was Identified

The Charles Darwin Foundation team contacted Janet Voight, emeritus curator of invertebrates at the Field Museum in Chicago and lead author of the study describing the new species.

El Telegrafo reports that the specimen was preserved in alcohol and formalin and sent to Chicago.

Because there was only one specimen, Voight worked with Stephanie Smith, manager of the Field Museum's X-ray computed tomography lab, to scan the octopus rather than open it.

The scans helped researchers study internal details and declare it a new species: Microeledone galapagensis.

What This Means For Expats

For Galapagos residents, visitors and conservation supporters, this is not a travel-rule change. It is a reminder of how much of the islands' deep ocean remains poorly known.

El Telegrafo quoted Salome Buglass, a marine scientist at the University of California and former FCD researcher, saying discoveries like this show how much of the deep ocean in Galapagos remains unexplored and why hidden ecosystems need protection.

Source: El Telegrafo