The female keeps this packet so she can produce fertile eggs whenever she wants, without having to find another male. » Not much is known about the habitat of this octopus. The female octopus lays eggs under small rocks and shells whenever she wants after becoming sexually active with a male octopus. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Dumbo octopuses are actually a genus consisting of 13 different species. We rarely interact with dumbo octopuses, and they rarely move into any habitats shallow enough to accidentally catch them. The name "Dumbo" is derived from a resemblance to a character in a Disney 1941 film, Dumbo. They are small animals, around 8 inches tall, and have a pair of fins located on their mantle—their namesake—and webbing between their arms. Humans can only access such conditions in robotic vehicles. They range greatly in size, and the largest recorded was nearly six feet long. They are “cirrate” octopuses, a group of deep-sea octopuses that have slender protrusions trailing from their suckers called cirri. They are very adaptable and live in everything from small swallow pool to depth up to  2,000 m (6,600 ft). © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- Do you know any interesting facts about the Octopus that we’ve missed? The largest specimen of dumbo octopi has recorded ever with 13 pounds of weight and 6 feet length. With 13 species to choose from, there are tons of fun tidbits to learn about these creatures. After he is bullied by a group of kids, his mom is sent into a rage which gets her locked up. The rarely observed, ghostly white cephalopod delights scientists remotely exploring an underwater volcano. they live in the pelagic oceanic zone, which means open sea. Because of this, we do not pose much of a threat to dumbo octopuses. The Dumbo octopus is so named because of the two fins above its eyes that look like the big ears of Walt Disney’s flying elephant. Download Dumbo Octopus Habitat With Hd Quality By Augusto for desktop and phones. The most common area of the ocean for them to reside happens to be along the coral reefs and ocean floor. The Octopus of different species lives in every ocean of the world. Dumbo octopus is a type of octopus named after Walt Disney's famous character Dumbo the elephant because of the ear-like fins. At first sight Tom thought that these were small golf balls attached to the coral in the Northwest Atlantic, they turned out to be octopod eggs. These interesting animals can be found in all oceans of the world. Unfortunately, Dumbo’s ears cause an accident among the other elephants so, as punishment, he is made to perform dangerous stunts. The dumbo octopus is the rarest of the octopuses, although significant populations exist in the waters near Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Oregon, Monterey Bay, Azores, and Martha’s Vineyard. While dumbo octopuses are absolutely strange creatures, they are also unbelievably interesting as well. AUGUSTOALGUSTO offer daily download for free, fast and easy. They live at least 9,800 ft. below the surface of the ocean, and some of them are found at 23,000 ft. deep! Dumbo Octopus Facts. Habitat The dumbo octopus normally lives in the deep ocean, about 4,000 meters below sea level. The deep sea is a difficult place to survive. World's Deepest Octopus Captured on Camera. The rest? Down to the Depths – All of the various species of dumbo octopus are deep sea dwellers. This octopus gets its name from the large, ear-like fins located on its mantle. Dumbo octopuses are undeniably odd-looking creatures. Naturally, its nickname is a reference to the classic Disney animated movie, Dumbo. When she finds a good spot, she will deposit the eggs under rocks, or carry them on the underside of her arms. The dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis) is a deep sea animal that lives on the ocean floor at extreme depths of 9,800 to 13,000 feet. Dumbo octopuses live at extreme depths in oceans around the world—up to 13,000 feet below the surface—and are the deepest-living octopuses known. No species of dumbo octopus has ever been kept in an aquarium. … Although experts admit to uncertainty, the Dumbo Octopus appears to have a worldwide distribution. But, within all areas it appears, it displays definite habitat preferences. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/d/dumbo-octopus.html. In the deep sea, they share their habitat with the occasional anglerfish and blobfish. Scientists have yet to study the extensive depths of the ocean, but many of the places we have studied contained dumbo octopus species. Its delicate web reminds of some species of Dumbo Octopus: it is very long and gelatinous, extending more than two thirds up the arms. And quite impressive ones, at that. Share them with us in the comments section below! They swim through the water or crawl across the seafloor in their search for food. (CNN) The deepest known sighting of an octopus has been captured on film, more than a … They will feed on any amphipod, copepod, … Compared to other species of octopus, their arms are relatively short, and their mantles relatively large. These creatures live from 9,800 ft. down to 23,000 ft. deep. Some of the isolated population is also spotted off the coast of Oregon. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/d/dumbo-octopus The dumbo octopus does not had one breeding system. Worldwide having been found in New Zealand and Australia, Monterey Bay, California; Oregon, Philippines and in Papua, New Guinea There are more than a dozen species of dumbo octopus, and they come in many different shapes and sizes. The dumbo octopus takes its name from Dumbo, the elephant that used its massive ears to fly. This should go without saying, but people rarely find their way to 10,000 ft. below the surface of the ocean. It would be extremely difficult to replicate the environment that this creature lives in. Researchers will likely continue to make discoveries about these creatures the longer they research the depths of the oceans. The only visible parts of its body are its eyes and digestive gland. If you haven’t seen this flick yet, Dumbo is a young circus elephant who is born with rather large ears. Often called the cutest octopus in the world, the Dumbo octopus has fins on its mantle that look like the huge ears of Dumbo the Elephant. Dumbo Octopus is a genus of Grimpoteuthis pelagic umbrella octopus. Webbing between their arms aids them in swimming. These octopuses are highly opportunistic, and will feed on just about anything that they can catch. “The name [‘Dumbo’ octopus, the common name for the Grimpoteuthis family of octopi] is a nod to the prominent ear-like fins just above these animals' eyes that … look like the 1940s Disney cartoon character. Like all octopuses, they are related to squid and nautilus. It would be even more difficult to successfully bring the animal to said environment without killing it in the process while transporting it! That’s because all known species in the group live at extreme ocean depths. First, what is Dumbo about you ask? These octopuses can be found virtually worldwide. Researchers have found them off the coasts of the western United States, Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and various other deep-sea locations. These fins give it a somewhat elephant-like appearance, hence the name “dumbo” octopus. The reason they can go so deep in the ocean is due to their soft/jelly bodies which can change shape. A dumbo octopus lives around 3 to 5 years.Some interesting, yet lesser-known facts about the dumbo octopus include:All About Grimpoteuthis, the Dumbo Octopus.Dr. The dumbo octopus looks more like a lunar lander flying through space than any kind of octopus. The typical octopus has a saccular body: the head is only slightly demarcated from the body and has large, complex eyes and eight contractile arms. Their most distinguishing feature is the pair of large fins located on either side of their mantle. How do species like the mimic octopus camouflage themselves? 3. The deep sea dumbo octopus is already one of the most silly looking animals living in the ocean but its young offspring takes the look to a whole new level. The dumbo octopus, or Grimpoteuthis, is so-named for the distinct shape of its fins which closely resemble the ears of an elephant. Earlike To hunt, these creatures float above the sea floor and use their sensitive arms to detect prey. Although most species of dumbo measure between 8 … Humans have not domesticated dumbo octopuses in any way. Dumbo octopuses live in the deep open ocean down to depths of at least 13,100 feet (4000 m) and perhaps much deeper, making this group the deepest living of all known octopuses. They are well adapted to deep sea survival, and this harsh environment is their only habitat. 2020. They require immense amounts of pressure to survive, and would not live in a home aquarium. The Dumbo Octopus gets its name from it’s giant ear-like paddles that sit on top of its head. When you live in a habitat as desolate as the deep sea, you can’t afford to be picky. This octopus feeds on worms and snails. Grimpoteuthis is a genus of pelagic umbrella octopuses known as the dumbo octopuses. They propel themselves through the water by flapping their strong fins, not by expelling water forcefully from their siphons—a process called jet propulsion—as other octopuses do. Read on to learn about the dumbo octopus. Octopuses have no bones which means they can cram themselves into tiny containers like jars and coconut shells. Dumbo octopuses can crawl, … Once they find a likely food item they pounce on it and swallow it whole. The dumbo octopus hunts crustaceans, worms, and other invertebrates that inhabit the pitch-black depths of the ocean. Researchers believe the creature is a new species of Dumbo octopus, named because of its ear-like fins. The dumbo octopus prefers to live at a depth of about 13,000 feet, but some have been observed at depths … (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Animals.NET aim to promote interest in nature and animals among children, as well as raise their awareness in conservation and environmental protection. Amos, J. It is impossible to keep a dumbo octopus as a pet. When they do, they better hope they are inside a highly pressurized submarine! The habitat of this group of species is incredibly unforgiving. Unlike many animals, the dumbo octopus does not have a breeding season. If an octopus gets lucky and happens to find a member of the opposite sex, it gets the chance to reproduce. Scientific Name: Octopus, Tremoctopus, Enteroctopus, Eledone, Pteroctopus, many others Common Name: Octopus Basic Animal Group: Invertebrate Size: >1 inch–16 feet Weight: >1 gram–600 pounds Lifespan: One to three years Diet: Carnivore Habitat: Every ocean; coastal waters in every continent Population: There are at least 289 species of octopuses; population estimates are not … Like most octopus, the male passes the female a packet of sperm, called a spermatophore. When brought to the surface, these creatures simply cannot survive. The dumbo octopus "flies" through water, but the flaps on the side of its head are specialized flippers, not ears. All rights reserved. Posted on bbc.com May 28, 2020, accessed June 1, 2020. The male octopus simply gives the female a handy-dandy sperm packet so she can lay eggs continuously on shells, beneath rocks or on bits of coral. Some common prey items are crustaceans, worms, amphipods, copepods, and isopods. There are around 37 different species of dumbo octopi. As part of the Opisthoteuthidae family of umbrella octopuses, the dumbo octopus has skin between its arms that allow it to form a net around its prey. Dumbo octopi live all over the world in oceans and seas. How many hearts does an octopus have? All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image. Once born, the dumbo octopus already has its trademark mantle fins and has a life expectancy of between 3-5 years. Seeing that available food sources in the deep ocean are very limited, Dumbo Octopuses are considered opportunistic hunters. The first Dumbo octopus was discovered in 2005 by a Tom Shank who was on the Deep Atlantic Stepping Stone expedition. They live deep down in the ocean at depths ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 meters, with some living as deep as 7,000 meters below the surface of the ocean, close to the hydrothermal vent fields or geyser. Deep on the ocean floor, there lives an octopus with a name straight out of a Disney movie. Researchers got a front row seat at the early life of the dumbo octopus after collecting an egg case from a deep sea octocoral, and watching its first ‘swims’ upon hatching. Similar to the Glass Octopus, the Telescope Octopus is transparent. The average size of this octopus is between 7.9 and 12 inches in length. The Dumbo Octopus is a hunter that feeds on crustaceans, mollusks, and bottom-dwelling seaworms. Beneath the mantle, they have eight arms, just like any other octopus. Then he learns that his ears actually let him fly! The males uses sperm to fertilize the eggs in the women. Octopuses vary greatly in size: the smallest, O. arborescens, is about 5 cm (2 inches) long, while the largest species may grow to 5.4 metres (18 feet) in length and have an arm span of almost 9 metres (30 feet). Each arm has only one row of … Dumbo octopuses are known for their innovative ways of locomotion. This lets the dumbo octopus capture prey that is quite large! CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Add in the octopus’s small size (generally around eight inches), relatively short arms, bell-shaped body, pale coloring, and tendency to hover over the seafloor, and you’ve got a cephalopod that’s often called the cutest octopus in the world. Dumbo octopuses refer to an entire genus of umbrella octopuses, which have a web of skin connecting all of their limbs. Researchers have limited information about the day-to-day life of this octopus. To put it simply, not much excitement happens in the deep sea. The dozen or so species that make up Grimpoteuthis are called Dumbo octopuses because of the two large fins—one on either side of the mantle—that protrude like ears. 2. BBC News. As mentioned, they are pelagic animals, i.e. The dumbo octopus inhabits the deep open ocean, where temperatures are low, pressure is high, and food is scarce. When the eggs hatch, the young octopuses are fully independent and receive no additional maternal care. It has a soft body, and eight arms that are connected to one another almost to their tips by flexible skin called webbing. Go watch it! However, average sizes are around one foot long. They feed on snails, worms, and other creatures they hoover up from the ocean floor. Find out about these and other octopus facts. The role of cirri is not known, but it’s thought to have something to do with feeding. It is dark, freezing cold, and incredibly high pressure, literally! Dumbo Octopus inhabits the deep oceans. Distribution & Habitat The dumbo octopus is thought to have a worldwide distribution that extends from California, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Monterey Bay, Azores, to New Zealand. It is likely that most of this creature’s time is spent swimming about searching for food and hoping to run into a potential mate. Life at these extreme depths requires the ability to live in very cold … Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. They only live in saltwater.