''Grimpoteuthis imperator'', also known as the Emperor Dumbo octopus, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of deep-sea octopus in the family

Grimpoteuthidae Grimpoteuthidae are a family of bentho-pelagic octopuses, comprising three currently accepted genera. They have extensive arm webbing and relatively large fins allowing for powerful fin swimming. Description Grimpoteuthidae have a strongly U-, ...

. The species is known from a single male specimen found in the Emperor Seamounts in the north

Pacific The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean, or, depending on the definition, to Antarctica in the south, and is bounded by the cont ...

off the coast of Japan in 2021. It was found at depths of 3900–4400m. The species was described using non-invasive methods such as

CT scan A computed tomography scan (CT scan), formerly called computed axial tomography scan (CAT scan), is a medical imaging technique used to obtain detailed internal images of the body. The personnel that perform CT scans are called radiographers or ...

and

3D imaging In computer vision and computer graphics, 3D reconstruction is the process of capturing the shape and appearance of real objects. This process can be accomplished either by active or passive methods. If the model is allowed to change its shape i ...

to preserve the only known specimen but to still be able to describe the species.

Initial research

The single cirrate specimen was collected in the North Pacific Ocean during scientific cruise SO-249 BERING (R/V SONNE) using a chain bag dredge. When discovered, the animal was dead and was immediately transferred to a bucket of cold seawater. Several small tissue samples were collected from a single damaged arm. These tissue samples were then placed inside small plastic vials of fixative. It has been suggested that the species lives close to the sea floor, as the web between the tentacles is shorter than in species known to float free in the water column. Presumably a longer web would constitute a hindrance to movements on the bottom.

References

Octopuses Cephalopods of Oceania Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Cephalopods described in 2021 {{Octopus-stub