Meet the ‘ghostly’ dumbo octopus captured on video off the coast of California



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An adorable cephalopod with a ghostly appearance has been spotted drifting through the deep waters off the coast of California.

Researchers exploring the Davidson Seamount in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary came across the so-called dumbo octopus earlier this week using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

With its small wing-like fins flapping slowly through the dark and a ‘web’ that fans out like an umbrella, the elusive sea creature looks just like a cartoon apparition.

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An adorable cephalopod with a ghostly appearance has been spotted drifting through the deep waters off the coast of California

An adorable cephalopod with a ghostly appearance has been spotted drifting through the deep waters off the coast of California

The E/V Nautilus team stumbled upon the white dumbo octopus on Oct 23. These cephalopods are also commonly known as umbrellas octopus.

It was spotted during the first of a series of dives at the Davidson Seamount.

During this dive, the team used the ROV to look at an unexplored ‘oasis’ region that sits southeast of the feature, where there are fields of coral and sponge.

‘At first the ghostly octopod drifted past the camera on ROV Hercules flapping its pair of wing-like fins, then it inverted its web, spreading it like an umbrella to reveal the eight arms each with a single series of suckers and two series of finger-like muscular structures called cirri,’ the team said.

The E/V Nautilus team stumbled upon the white dumbo octopus on Oct 23

With its small wing-like fins flapping slowly through the dark and a ¿web¿ that fans out like an umbrella, the elusive sea creature looks just like a cartoon apparition

With its small wing-like fins flapping slowly through the dark and a ‘web’ that fans out like an umbrella, the elusive sea creature looks just like a cartoon apparition. The E/V Nautilus team stumbled upon the white dumbo octopus on Oct 23

The team estimates the octopus was about 60 centimeters long (2 feet).

The area near the Davidson Seamount stretches from 3,100 to 3,600 meters deep, and is home to basaltic rocky reef.

Researchers are hoping to survey the area and document the presence of deep-sea life, along with collecting water and sediment samples, and environmental data.

Researchers exploring the Davidson Seamount in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary came across the so-called dumbo octopus earlier this week using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

Researchers exploring the Davidson Seamount in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary came across the so-called dumbo octopus earlier this week using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

HOW DO OCTOPUSES DEFEND THEMSELVES?

One of the most effective ways octopuses avoid predation is by camouflaging with their environment.

They have special pigment cells allow them to control the colour of their skin, much like chameleons.

As well as colour change they can manipulate the texture of their skin in order to blend in with the terrain. 

As well as camouflage they can escape predators by using a ‘jet propulsion’ method of escape, where they rapidly shoot out water to propel them through the water rapidly.  

The jet of water from the siphon is often accompanied by a release of ink to confuse and evade potential enemies.

The suckers on the tentacles of the eight-legged beasts are extremely powerful and are used to drag prey towards a sharp beak.

As well as protection from other animals, it has been recently found that octopuses can detect the ultrasonic waves that preempt a volcanic eruption or earthquake, giving them enough time to escape.

Davidson Seamount, an inactive undersea volcanic mountain, sits 129 kilometers southwest of Monterey and has come to be known as an ‘Oasis in the Deep’ due to the abundance of coral forests and sponge fields.

Elsewhere in its surroundings, the seafloor is flat.

But at the Davidson Seamount, the coral and sponge fields flourish with crabs, fish, shrimp, basket stars, and as yet unidentified species. 

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