Rare Octopus Sighted
Again
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Scientists onboard the Exploration Vessel Nautilus were excited this spring to spot two rare Dumbo Octopuses while currently on expedition in the Central Pacific Ocean. Using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), the octopuses were located at depths exceeding 5,000 feet below the ocean's surface.
In 2019 another Dumbo Octopus burst into the spotlight when the E/V Nautilus made a similar sighting of one of the reclusive octopuses off the coast of California at the same time Disney's live-action movie Dumbo was released. An unexpected coincidence.
The ocean scientists were surprised and charmed when they came upon the rarely seen octopus deep beneath the sea.
The scientists were treated to the special sight at the end of the 2018 exploration season when they were surveying the deep waters of the Davidson Seamount in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary off California's coast.
The ship was using an ROV to photograph the area when the Dumbo Octopus – with its large fins that resemble the ears of the well-known elephant – unexpectedly drifted into view.
The 2 ft.-long octopus, which was swimming at a depth of some 10,000 feet below sea level, delighted the crew with its twists and turns and other maneuverings.
Dumbo octopuses, who spend most of their time hovering just above the ocean floor, can move quickly, using their fins and eight webbed-together legs to propel themselves.
Now, with the exploration vessel's 2022 season underway, who knows what other wonders it will find hidden in the ocean's depths?
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