Chilean scientists discover new deep-sea octopus species from the Pacific

The discovery was made by identifying several specimens in biological collections of German, North American, New Zealand, and Chilean museums.

Chilean scientists discover new deep-sea octopus species from the Pacific

TL;DR

  • A new deep-sea octopus species, Graneledone Sellanesi, has been discovered in the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
  • The discovery was made by researchers from the Universidad Andrés Bello (UAB) in Chile.
  • The new species belongs to the Graneledone genus, bringing the total recognized species worldwide to 11.
  • Specimens were identified in biological collections from museums in Germany, North America, New Zealand, and Chile.
  • Distinct phenotypic traits, such as the number and arrangement of skin warts, were key to confirming the new species.
  • This finding emphasizes the southeastern Pacific as a significant reservoir of marine biodiversity.