Discovery of a Mysterious Octopus Near the Galapagos Islands

Researchers using a submersible near the Galapagos Islands have identified a unique octopus species. The octopus, noted for its ocean-blue color and small enough to fit in a hand, caught the attention of scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation. This discovery occurred about 5,900 feet underwater.

Octopus expert Janet Voight instantly recognized the significance of this find. Initially, Voight had only photographs to examine. Upon receiving the preserved specimen, she marveled at its beauty.

“When it arrived, I was like ‘Oh! My goodness! It’s beautiful,'” Voight told AFP.

The octopus was found near Isla Darwin. This is the first time a species like this has been discovered so far from the nearest similar species in Uruguay. Normally, to identify a new octopus species, a specimen undergoes dissection to examine features like its mouth and beak. However, with only one specimen available, Voight opted against this approach.

The team at the Field Museum used CT scans to compile thousands of X-ray images, producing a 3D model that revealed the octopus’s internal structure. Stephanie Smith, head of the X-ray lab at the museum, noted the excitement of seeing something entirely new.

“There’s nothing like spending the day looking at something no other human has ever seen,” she stated.

Named Microeledone galapagensis, this species stands out not only for its rare blue hue. This octopus is a smaller member of the Megaleledonidae family, typically larger and residing in the Southern Ocean near Antarctica. Differences include its short arms with one row of suckers and its coloration with a deep purple underside.

Voight speculated this color pattern provides safety. The dark coloration may help conceal the octopus when hunting prey that emits light, preventing it from attracting predators.

New octopus species discovery is common, especially in unexplored deep-sea areas. Voight recalled discovering a different species in 2023 near Costa Rica. The new blue octopus was first seen in 2015 near Darwin Island, named after Charles Darwin.

This is the first species description led by Voight in her four-decade career, noted the Field Museum. There are approximately 300 species of octopus globally. In 2024, researchers found four new octopus species off Costa Rica.

Voight’s detailed study on this octopus has been published in the journal Zootaxa.