Many people agree that the Dumbo octopus is the world’s prettiest octopus.
They are so named because of the Dumbo the elephant ear-like fins that protrude from the sides of their heads.These fins help them move through the water and navigate through ocean currents. They also allow the cephalopod to hover as it searches for prey.
Found in waters throughout the world, these adorable creatures are bell-shaped, pale in color, and possess short stubby arms.
1. They live at extreme depths
Dumbo octopuses are the deepest-living octopuses known to man. They can be found at up to 13,000 feet below the ocean surface. 1
2. Unlike others, they cannot move by jet-propulsion
Many squid and octopus species can engage in jet propulsion—the process of expelling water at high velocities to mediate movement.
Dumbo octopuses use their fins and arms to steer themselves around.
3. Their blood is blue!
The iron in human blood is what makes our blood appear red when exposed to open air. Dumbo octopus blood is blue in colour because of its high copper content.
Copper is a more efficient at circulating oxygen through the body when temperatures are very low. 2
4. They have three hearts
Octopuses have three hearts that all help circulate blood through the body and back to get reoxygenated again. One of the hearts is responsible for pumping blood to the body while two propel blood past the octopus’s gills.
5. Their huge eyes help them see in the dark
As a deep-sea animal, dumbo octopuses have huge eyes that can, at times, measure a third of the width of their head. These aid in capturing the tiny amounts of light that reach them from the surface.
6. Dumbo octopuses do not have ink sacs
You might be familiar with the ink sac, a common defense mechanism that many octopuses use to deflect predators.
Since dumbo octopuses live at such deep depths, they do not employ this method of escaping from close encounters.
7. A new species was recently discovered
In 2016, a new species of dumbo octopus was found. Nicknamed the “Emperor Dumbo”, this particular species was determined to be unique from known species using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and micro-computer tomography (micro-CT) techniques. 3
8. They swallow their prey in one big gulp
When dumbo octopuses find tasty prey, they pounce and eat their victims whole.
They are foragers that search for small invertebrates. There is still much to learn regarding their diets due to how isolated they are above the seafloor.
9. The largest dumbo octopus found was almost 2 metres long
On average, dumbo octopuses are 8 inches (20 cm) long. The largest one ever recorded came in at 5 feet 10 inches (1.8m) and 13 pounds. 4
10. They do not have a breeding season
Male dumbo octopuses transfer sperm to females who then use them to fertilize eggs that she has laid on shells or rocks. Females have been found to fertilize eggs at different time points throughout the year, so it is believed that there is no specific season during which they are more sexually active.
11. They can color change
Masters of camouflage, many species of octopus can change the color of their skin. Dumbo octopuses are no exception.
Hue shifts are facilitated by chromatophores—miniscule color-changing organs, found just beneath the skin’s surface, filled with pigment. They can also, stand out!
12. Females can store sperm until their eggs are ready to be fertilized
Males transfer sperm packets to females via a hectocotylus, an arm-like structure that extends into the female’s mantle. The female can then store these packets until fertilization conditions are optimal.
13. Hatchlings are fully formed at birth
Once released from the egg, dumbo octopuses are competent and able to care for themselves. Their yolk sacs contain nutrients that nourish the young hatchling after birth. This gives it time to learn hunting techniques in its first few days. 5
14. You will never find one in captivity
Accustomed to highly pressurized environments, these octopuses would not survive in manmade tanks.
Removing them from their natural environment would kill them so, as cute as they are, they cannot be kept as pets or in aquariums!
Source: https://ghiennaunuong.com
