A remarkable discovery has been made near the Galápagos Islands, where scientists have identified a new species of octopus. This tiny, vivid blue octopus, no larger than a golf ball, was first spotted in 2015 by a deep-sea robot during an expedition aboard the E/V Nautilus. The mission was a collaboration between the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park Directorate.

Scientific Discovery

The octopus was found at a depth of nearly 5,800 feet near Darwin Island, at the northern edge of the Galápagos archipelago. Researchers collected one specimen and captured video footage of two others. Back at the Charles Darwin Research Station, the unique nature of this little blue octopus was immediately apparent.

Janet Voight, curator emerita of invertebrates at the Field Museum in Chicago, was contacted to help identify the species. Voight, who has spent 40 years studying octopus evolution, led the research team that formally described the new species in the journal Zootaxa. The octopus has been named Microeledone galapagensis.

Innovative Techniques

Due to the rarity of the specimen, traditional methods of identification, which often involve dissection, were not an option. Instead, Voight collaborated with Stephanie Smith, manager of the Field Museum’s X-ray computed tomography laboratory, to use micro CT scans. This non-destructive technique allowed the team to create a detailed 3D model of the octopus’s internal structures, confirming it as a new species.

Smith highlighted the importance of this method, stating, “Because CT imaging is non-destructive, it’s especially important for type specimens like this one.” The scans provided enough information to place the octopus among related species.

Significance of the Discovery

Marine scientist Salome Buglass, a co-author of the research paper, emphasized the importance of such discoveries in understanding the deep ocean’s ecosystems. The Galápagos Islands, located off the coast of Ecuador, are renowned for their unique biodiversity, with over 1,000 plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.

Voight expressed the vastness of the oceans and the potential for further discoveries, saying, “If you took all the land on Earth and pieced it together, you would not cover the Pacific Ocean. The oceans are so big, and there’s so much left to explore.”

This discovery not only adds to the scientific understanding of marine life but also underscores the need to protect these hidden ecosystems.

Original reporting: WQAD (Quad Cities) — read the source article.