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Animal profile

Dumbo Octopus

Grimpoteuthis discoveryi

CephalopodaDeep sea floor and near-bottom water, typically between 1,000 and 5,000 metres

Field profile

Dumbo octopuses are finned, gelatinous deep-sea octopuses named for the ear-like fins above their eyes. They live deeper than any other octopus group and are known largely from trawl specimens and remotely operated vehicle footage.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2025-01-08

Dumbo Octopus

The deepest octopuses have lost their ink sacs

Dumbo octopuses live thousands of metres down, where there is no sunlight for an ink cloud to obscure. The cirrate octopuses to which they belong have dispensed with the ink sac entirely.

Read with evidence →

Dumbo Octopus | Daily Animal Facts