Researchers Spot Rare Dumbo Octopus in ‘Largely Unexplored’ Waters Near Hawaii
Researchers traversing the deep waters of Hawaii recently uncovered a rare Dumbo octopus about a mile below the ocean’s surface.
Video of the magnificent creature, obtained by the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Foundation (NOAA), shows it swimming in an unnamed seamount northwest of Hawaii just 5,500 feet below the surface.
According to the Aquarium of the Pacific, Dumbo octopuses are the deepest-dwelling octopuses known to man, usually living between 9,000 and 13,000 feet below the surface. Because they live so deep in the ocean, the 17 species of Dumbos are rarely spotted by researchers and see very little human interaction.
They earned their name for the large, ear-like fins which appear on either side of their head, giving them a resemblance to Disney’s classic elephant.
Dumbos use their ears to capture food, often swallowing it whole. They feast upon copepods, isopods, bristle worms, amphipods, and other creatures. At that depth, prey can unfortunately be scarce. Luckily, so can predators. Despite the species not having ink sacs, which are the defense mechanism of many octopi, this rarely becomes an issue as they have most of the ocean’s bottom to themselves.
The scientists who spotted the creature are working with the OET and NOAA to map “largely unexplored” sections of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Dumbo octopuses are most commonly found in the Central Pacific.
The most recent time a Dumbo octopus was captured on film was in 2020, when researcher Alan Jamieson photographed one swimming four miles below the surface of India’s Java Trench.
