In extremely deep ocean conditions, a new species of octopus was found.

Off the coast of Australia, a new deep-sea octopus with massive eyes and a pancake-flat body was discovered. The Carnarvon flapjack octopus, or Opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis, is a tiny aquatic animal that was found deep within the Carnarvon Canyon Aquatic Park.

It is the most recent of 10 newly identified species based on samples taken during an RV Investigator voyage in 2022. Under the direction of Australia's national research agency, the month-long journey was the first to conduct a scientific survey of the seabed in the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks. Located off the coast of Western Australia, these parks are overseen by Parks Australia and were mainly unknown before the mission.

Octopus "Carnarvon flapjack"

Samples taken from depths ranging from 1,044 to 1,510 meters (3,425 to 4,950 feet) were used by researchers from the CSIRO's Australian National Fish Collection and the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Sleds, nets, and cameras were used to survey isolated areas of the seafloor. The Carnarvon flapjack octopus, a tiny, soft-bodied, gelatinous octopus with a diameter of roughly 4 centimetres (1.6 inches), was one of the discoveries.

The flapjack octopus, a cirrate or 'dumbo' octopus that inhabits the deep ocean, is the new species. With a body length of up to 40 mm, it is a little octopus with an orange-brown colouring, according to Dr. Tristan Verhoeff, a Systematic Taxonomist who volunteers at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery. The Carnarvon Flapjack is unique. With its oversized eyes and ability to flatten them like pancakes or wind them up like miniature rain umbrellas, they are deep-sea-shaped switches.

Your big eyes help to recognize prey at weak ocean depths, which usually eat worms and small crustaceans. "Dumbo Okopas is a rare and unusual way to live on the seabed. They grow slowly, are very soft, and are like strong winds, and in contrast to other octopuses, they do not produce ink and are unable to change color.

Approximately 50 types of dumboink fishing are known all over the world, 15 of which live in Australian waters. The discoveries highlight the rich but still less well-known biodiversity of Australia's Deep Lake.

"The explanation of the new species is exciting, but it takes time because there is pressure to do it right and you have to look at the comparative material and look into the old literature," continued Dr. Verhoeff. "Many of the new species I described have been in museums and other collections for decades, when I hope someone will notice them."

The significance of these findings

These protected marine parks are even more significant now that the Carnarvon flapjack octopus has been discovered. According to Dr. Verhoeff, "depicting new species is also essential for future work on their ecology, and assessing populations for conservation."

There is still so much to learn, stressed Dr. Lisa Kirkendale of the Western Australian Museum. According to Dr. Kirkendale, "the discovery of new species of macroscopic marine animals illustrates how little we still know about the deep sea in this area."

Approximately 4 centimetres in diameter, the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus is a tiny, gelatinous deep-sea octopus. To enlarge the image, click it. Credit: CSIRO's Cindy Bessey "The WA Museum is the region's institutional hub as we move forward to address this challenge, and the Indian Ocean is truly a frontier for marine biodiversity research."

She also commented on how important it is to support taxonomy experts. "In Australia, we need to better support taxonomists like Tristan to continue documenting great new methods such as the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus," she added.

New species of unknown depth

"The 2022 trip to Western Australia was extremely important to strengthen our understanding of the habitat and biological diversity of the region." Dr. Josclair also highlighted the scope of mission results, saying, "There are many new marine species on this individual research trip alone."

Incredibly, scientists estimate that more than 1,000 new species have been waiting to be explained over the past decade from specimens collected on RV research trips.

RV Ocean Research is extremely important

Although it can be difficult to do research in distant, offshore, or deep ocean locations, remotely operated vehicles, such as the RV Investigator, can provide researchers an amazing array of capabilities to get a glimpse into the unknown deep.

"These findings will help Parks Australia preserve the natural values of the marine parks in the future and are essential in helping us understand the conservation needs of the marine parks," Joscelyne said.

Australia's uncharted maritime canyons are turning out to be biodiversity gold mines, home to everything from hornsharks and colourful scorpionfish to orange-brown octopuses.

Despite its modest size, the Carnarvon flapjack octopus serves as a powerful reminder of how much of the deep ocean is still unknown and has to be explored, comprehended, and preserved.