"The first new octopus species described by lead author Janet Voight in her four-decade career."
Discovery
A new species of octopus, Microeledone galapagensis, has been identified from a specimen collected during a 2015 deep-sea expedition near Darwin Island in the Galápagos archipelago. The octopus was observed and captured by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) at a depth of 5,800 feet (1,773 meters).
Description
The octopus is described as small—approximately golf ball-sized—and blue in color. It is the first new octopus species described by lead author Janet Voight (Field Museum, Chicago) in her four-decade career.
Research Methods
Because only one specimen was available, researchers used micro CT scanning—a non-destructive imaging technique—to examine its internal anatomy, including mouth and beak structures, instead of dissecting the animal. CT scans were performed at the Field Museum's X-ray computed tomography laboratory.
Classification
The species is placed in the genus Microeledone. The formal description was published in the journal Zootaxa.
Significance
According to scientists, the discovery underscores how much of the deep ocean in Galápagos remains unexplored and highlights the importance of conservation efforts.