''Grimpoteuthis challengeri'' is a species of large octopus living in the

abyssal zone The abyssal zone or abyssopelagic zone is a layer of the pelagic zone of the ocean. The word ''abyss'' comes from the Greek word (), meaning "bottomless". At depths of , this zone remains in perpetual darkness. It covers 83% of the total area ...

Description

The octopus is 370 millimeters long in total, while its mantle reaches a length of up to 75 millimeters. It has long arms, and it has a web covering them that reaches 2/3 of the arm length. ''G. challengeri'' has between 63 and 72 suckers on its arms. Its

shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses Science Biology * Seashell, a hard outer layer of a marine ani ...

is shaped like the letter "U". Like other cirrate octopods, ''G. challengeri'' has fins on either side of its mantle that it uses to swim through the ocean. This octopus's fins are long. It also has a beak, as do other octopuses. ''G. challengeri'' is a red-brown color when preserved, and its fins have a slight purple hue. The octopus's lifespan is unknown. It may lay its eggs on the seafloor, instead of brooding them.

Habitat

''G. challengeri'' is known from multiple specimens collected in the

Porcupine Abyssal Plain The Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) is located in international waters, adjacent to the Irish continental margin. The PAP lies beyond the Porcupine Bank's deepest point and is southwest of it. It has a muddy seabed, with scattered abyssal hill ...

of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, while another specimen was found in the northwest Atlantic. It lives 4,828 to 4,838 meters deep. It likely lives in the

demersal The demersal zone is the part of the sea or ocean (or deep lake) consisting of the part of the water column near to (and significantly affected by) the seabed and the benthos. The demersal zone is just above the benthic zone and forms a layer o ...

zone.

References

Cephalopods described in 2003 Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean Octopuses Molluscs of Europe {{octopus-stub