New octopus species discovered in deep-sea canyon off Australia

Australian scientists have discovered a new species of octopus in a deep-sea canyon off the coast of Carnarvon, Western Australia. The species has been named Opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis, after the town where it was found.

The species, commonly known as the "Carnarvon Flapjack octopus," is the latest discovery from a deep-sea expedition conducted by CSIRO in 2022, and is the 10th new octopus species recorded from the survey, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) said in a statement on May 20.

Scientists describe the creature as being just 4cm long, with large eyes and bright red tentacles, and living in deep waters in the Gascoyne and Carnarvon Marine Parks - areas that have previously been largely unexplored .

This octopus belongs to the group of “Dumbo octopuses,” a name derived from the large pair of elephant-ear-like fins used to move through the water.

According to researcher Tristan Verhoeff from the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, the species' most notable feature is its soft body, inability to squirt ink or change colour like other octopus species.

They grow slowly and live mainly at depths of up to 4,500 meters below the sea surface, preying on small crustaceans and marine worms.

The survey, conducted by CSIRO in collaboration with the Western Australian Museum and Tasmanian Museum, is considered the first comprehensive marine biodiversity study in the region.

Scientists estimate that there are still more than 1,000 new marine species waiting to be described from data collected over the past decade by the Investigator./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-hien-loai-bach-tuoc-moi-o-hem-nui-bien-sau-ngoai-khoi-australia-post1039858.vnp