Topic: Research News

Scientists have discovered a new species of octopus in the deep waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands. The tiny blue octopus was found nearly 6,000 feet beneath the ocean surface.

The Galápagos Islands are famous for their unique and endemic species. Now, scientists have added another remarkable creature to that list: a tiny blue octopus. The new species was announced in the journal Zootaxa after researchers confirmed that it had never been documented before.

The discovery was made during a 2015 deep-sea expedition aboard the exploration vessel E/V Nautilus. The mission was carried out in partnership with the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) and the Galápagos National Park Directorate. Researchers used a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to investigate the seafloor near Darwin Island, located at the northern edge of the Galápagos archipelago.

As the ROV explored an underwater mountain roughly 5,800 feet below the ocean surface, researchers noticed something unusual moving across the seafloor: a tiny octopus with a striking blue color. The scientists' immediate reactions were captured in the expedition audio recordings.

Implications

Scientists have discovered a new species of octopus in the deep waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands. The tiny blue octopus was found nearly 6,000 feet beneath the ocean surface.