Dumbo Octopuses

Dumbo Octopus

A Dumbo Octopus is a cephalopod, which is known for their large ear-like fins. Their scientific name is Grimpoteuthis but are also known as the umbrella octopus. Dumbo octopuses come from a family called Opisthoteuthidae.

Diet

Dumbo Octopuses feed on meat as they are carnivores. They mainly eat copepods, isopods, bristle worms and amphipods. The animals dumbo octopuses eat are small marine animals that are usually found around ocean vent ecosystems or floating along the current. Unlike other octopuses they eat their prey whole or grind their food.

Appearance

Dumbo octopuses have an unique appearance that other animals in the ocean don't have. Their large ear-like fins looks alike to the Disney character, Dumbo, where their name was originated. The common colour of these octopuses are red, white, brown, or pink. Like other octopuses, they have the ability to camouflage and have 8n tentacles. Dumbo Octopuses grow up to almost 6kg and are usually 20cm tall.

Movement

The movement of these octopuses involves them to bump their umbrella like fins to have faster movement. However, due to the depths of the ocean, there are rarely situations where they have to escape. Dumbo octopuses propel themselves through the water by flapping their fins while others expel the water forcefully from their siphons. This is a process called jet propulsion.

Habitat

In the ocean, dumbo octopuses live further out in the depths in the sea. They are found in the Northern portion of Emperor Seamounts, underwater mountain range in the Northern Pacific Ocean. Dumbo octopuses live in the deepest part of the ocean of any known octopuses in the world. They live in the Bathyal zone where they are down in depths of 4,000 meters.

Conclusion

There are many unknown facts about these marine animals such as dumbo octopuses being very intelligent with 9 brains and 32 hearts. They are called the deepest- living genus of all known octopuses.

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