The wonders of the Galápagos Islands never cease.
The region, known for amazing species such as giant tortoises and diving iguanas, has offered up a new marvel.
Miles beneath the waves, cameras captured a predator that looks like a child’s toy.
It’s not your average octopus, with a cute gimmick beyond its cute appearance. It survives using a clever trick that flips the game.
How did this brilliant creature manage to hide from us until now?
How the Galápagos still manages to deliver zoological surprises
The Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF) sent its exploration vessel E/V Nautilus to investigate the seafloor near Darwin Island in 2015.
There’s always hope of new discoveries. But the islands have been so well covered by research that expectations weren’t high.
That’s why, when the cameras onboard the remotely operated vehicle caught this creature in the depths, researchers were delighted.
The deep-sea expedition at the northern edge of the Galápagos archipelago focused on an underwater mountain roughly 5,800 feet below the surface.
At that pitch-black, crushing depth, researchers noticed something unusual: a tiny octopus with a striking blue color.
It didn’t resemble any known species, looking more like a cartoon or a blue golf ball.
The team quickly collected the octopus specimen. Two others that appeared to be the same species were recorded on video for observation.
A specimen was sent to octopus expert Janet Voight, who said she knew right from the start that this was something special.
Sparing the paring: A non-destructive scientific breakthrough
The blue octopus was carefully preserved in alcohol and formalin and shipped to Chicago. Voight took possession of it at the Field Museum and went to work.
Normally, identifying a new species, like this box jellyfish, requires dissection to study features such as the mouth, beak, and teeth.
However, the researchers faced a major challenge. They had only one confirmed specimen that Voight did not want to destroy.
The team turned to advanced imaging technology instead.
The Field Museum applied innovative X-ray computed tomography, and the result was highly detailed micro-CT scans of all parts of the octopus.
Because CT imaging is non-destructive, it’s especially important for type specimens like this one.
It works by combining thousands of X-ray images into a detailed 3D model, revealing the exterior and internal anatomy without physically cutting into it.
Similar tech has been used to study fossil specimens millions of years old.
For the tiny blue octopus, the scans provided clear views of internal organs and mouth structures.
It has now been officially classified as a new species, and scientists are beginning to understand its relationship to other octopuses.
Changing the game with counter-countershading
The blue octopus has been named Microeledone galapagensis, a big name for something so mini.
It also has big survival skills, using a unique evolutionary feature known as reverse countershading.
Traditional countershading sees predators being dark on top and light at the bottom. This is to blend with dark water from above and sunlight from below.
But Microeledone galapagensis turns that on its head.
From above, it’s smooth and almost colorless, making it look light blue or translucent. The inside of its mantle and its web are deep purple.
Scientists believe this striking color contrast keeps it safe from predators.
If the octopus captures prey that emits bioluminescent light in the pitch-black deep sea, it can throw its dark purple web over the prey like a blanket. This blocks out the light so it doesn’t attract predators.
Researchers say discoveries like this are important for protecting fragile ocean ecosystems that remain poorly understood.
Considering the vast tracts of ocean that we haven’t even begun to study yet, what other mini marvels are waiting to be named as we strive to categorize everything on Earth?