SUMMARY
Researchers have released images of Microeledone galapagensis, a peculiar blue deep-sea octopus species found in 2015 near the Galápagos Islands. The octopus, discovered at a depth of 1,773 meters, belongs to the Microeledone genus, characterized by a single row of suckers and the absence of an ink sac. Its discovery challenges previous assumptions about the Megaleledonidae family, which was thought to inhabit primarily cold Southern Ocean waters and be large-bodied. The small size and tropical location of Microeledone galapagensis suggest the family may be more widespread than previously believed.
TAKEAWAYS
A new blue deep-sea octopus species, Microeledone galapagensis, was discovered near the Galápagos Islands in 2015.
The species' small size and tropical habitat challenge existing scientific understanding of the Megaleledonidae family.
Researchers are still baffled by its exact place in the octopus family tree and its presence in Galápagos waters.
The discovery suggests the Megaleledonidae family may be more widely distributed globally than previously thought.