United News of Bangladesh

Scientists have identified a new species of tiny blue octopus living nearly 6,000 feet beneath the ocean surface near the Galápagos Islands, adding to the region’s long list of rare and unique wildlife. The species, officially named Microeledone galapagensis, was described in the scientific journal Zootaxa after researchers confirmed it had never been recorded before. The discovery traces back to a 2015 deep-sea expedition aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus, conducted in cooperation with the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Galápagos National Park Directorate. Using a remotely operated underwater vehicle, scientists explored the seafloor near Darwin Island at the northern edge of the Galápagos archipelago. At a depth of about 5,800 feet (1,773 meters), the team spotted a small octopus moving across an underwater mountain. Researchers were surprised by its bright blue color and tiny size, roughly similar to a golf ball. “It's tiny! It’s blue!” scientists were heard saying during expedition recordings. The team collected one specimen and also captured video footage of two others believed to be the same species. Back in the Galápagos, the samples were studied at the Charles Darwin Research Station, where scientists quickly realized the octopus did not match any known species. Octopus expert Janet Voight, curator emerita of invertebrates at the Field Museum in Chicago, was contacted for identification after reviewing images of the animal. “Right away, I knew it was something really special,” Voight said. “I’d never seen anything like it.” Because only one confirmed specimen was available, researchers avoided dissecting it to preserve the rare find. Instead, they used advanced micro CT scanning technology at the Field Museum to study its internal structure without damaging it. The scans produced detailed 3D images of the octopus’s organs, beak, and other features, allowing scientists to classify it as a new species. Experts said the non-invasive imaging was crucial due to the specimen’s rarity. The octopus is now recognized as Microeledone galapagensis, a species that adds new insight into deep-sea biodiversity around the Galápagos region. Researchers say the discovery highlights how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored and how many unknown species may still exist in remote marine ecosystems. “This tiny blue octopus fascinated us,” said marine scientist Salome Buglass, a co-author of the study. “Discoveries like these remind us how little we still know about the deep sea and why it needs protection.” Source: Science Daily