Octopuses are the deep sea superstars
About every time we film the deep sea floor, new octopus species are captured. The creatures have a special ability to develop new species.
The gloomy prince of darkness
The vampire octopus is the most well-known deep sea octopus with large, luminous eyes and spiky arms, which make up a mantle along with the sombre, dark brown skin. The octopus does not suck blood from its prey, but it owes its name to its scary appearance.
The brain is in the gullet
Dumbo octopuses are sturdily built with large, dark eyes and short, blunt arms. They almost look like small rubber beach toys and are often observed sitting on the floor or swimming across it in short jumps. Like other deep sea species, the Dumbo octopus has a very special brain and central nervous system design. Part of the brain typically makes up a ring around the throat, from where large nerves pass to individual arms. At the top of each arm, you will find a ganglion or tiny brain that controls the arm’s motions.
Clear view of the organs
The glass octopus is a completely transparent species that allows us to see its internal organs. The brain can be dimly made out. All the coloured spots are chromatophores or pigment cells. The spots probably function as camouflage in young animals that live in the light at a closer proximity to the surface. Most octopuses have round eyes, but the eyes of the glass octopus are very compressed and almost rectangular.
Mysterious fingers comb the sand
Only very few elbow squid have been observed – captured by underwater cameras near oil rigs, etc. – and they apparently have joints in their arms. The squid flows vertically through the water with the inner half of the arms protruding horizontally to the sides, whereas the outer half investigates the mud of the ocean floor in the shape of thin, trembling fingers.