Incredibly rare images of Dumbo octopus taken 10,000 feet below the surface of the sea

Scientists have captured incredible rare images of an octopus Dumbo swimming off the California coast.

Nicknamed for their oversized ear-shaped fins, the creatures normally swim far too deep for easy viewing. Among the deepest known octopuses, they normally swim around the seabed at depths ranging from 9,300 feet to 23,000 feet below the surface.

The Nautilus Expedition of the Ocean Exploration Trust captured an image of the octopus at a depth of about 10,800 feet at Southeast Davidson Seamount, southwest of Monterey, California. The ship has a number of remotely operated vehicles that can dive far below the surface. This sequence was taken by the ROV Hercules.

This year's six-month expedition has already uncovered a strange eel, which swells its mouth like a balloon, as well as oceanic rocks that, according to NASA, could come from space. Cameras film a large part of the trip, which you can watch online at Nautiluslive.org.

The researchers of the expedition were fascinated by the strange and cute octopus. "Oh my God, is it a Dumbo?" Asked when the creature appears in the video After a cool concert, a member of the team joked that the strange cephalopod was a reward after all the sea-pigs they had watched.

Sea pigs, or Scotoplanes, are a group of sea cucumbers that look a little like the big gelatinous beetles. The Dumbo, on the other hand, is a kind of octopus umbrella that – at least in this case – is pretty adorable. Properly named grimpoteuthis, the group of animals with eight tentacles are known for their large floating appendages that look a bit like ears.

But, as the video above reveals, the octopus Dumbo is much more than his "ears". The friendly creature of the camera opens her skirt to 0.24 to reveal her incredible tentacles. Stay tuned up to 0.44 for the best shot. "Goodbye, you're beautiful," we can hear a member of the crew at the end of the video.

The E / V Nautilus captured this rare image of an octopus Dumbo. E / V / Nautilus / Trust Fund for Ocean Exploration / Youtube

The Pacific Aquarium reports that most Dumbo octopuses reach between 8 and 12 inches long. Although this particular Dumbo looks gracious, the animals can be vicious. They jump on their prey – some crustaceans and worms – and feast on it all, while sucking up delicious pieces floating in the water.

This is the Trust's fourth annual trip to the Eastern Pacific Ocean on behalf of the Nautilus alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among others.

The ship crossed the waters of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Hawaii. The final leg of this year's journey will begin soon: a trip through the submerged banks of the California Borderland.

Ocean Exploration Trust did not immediately respond to a request for comment.