Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, a rare new species of flapjack octopus, has been recently discovered by scientists. They dubbed it the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus, found on an expedition in Australia’s deep sea last year. It was down in the depths of the Carnarvon Canyon that scientists found this incredible little critter, dubbed Opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis. It’s located in the Gascoyne Marine Parks, just off the country’s northwestern coast. It is a remarkable find that reminds us just how exceptional Australia’s marine biodiversity is. Beyond safeguarding fragile habitats from industrial activities, it deepens our knowledge of the deep sea ecosystem.
The Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus is easy to identify by its unusual characteristics, like its enormous eyes and vibrant, blood-red tentacles. Reaching a maximum diameter of about four centimeters, it is a small, gelatinous little octopus that is orange-brown with green chromatophores. The researchers found it in between 1,044- and 1,510-meter depths. This unexpected discovery happened as the recent 2022 voyage of the research vessel (RV) Investigator unfolded. This new species has been categorized under the cirrate octopus family. Generally referred to as “dumbo” octopuses due to their ear-like fins that at first glance resemble the Disney character.
Discovery and Significance
The find of the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus is unique. It is the tenth new species described from the specimens collected during the 2022 expedition. The RV Investigator has played a crucial role in exploring remote and challenging deep-sea environments, enabling researchers to uncover previously unknown marine life.
“Conducting research in remote, offshore, or deep ocean environments is generally challenging but RV Investigator provides researchers with an impressive range of capabilities to do this.” – phys.org
The Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus joins the estimated 50 other species, described and undescribed, of dumbo octopuses worldwide. Fifteen of these species have been found within Australian waters only, making Australia one of the world’s great centres of marine biodiversity. Dr. Tristan Verhoeff, a lead researcher who participated in the study, asserted the significance of these findings.
“Australia has a higher biodiversity of dumbo octopus species compared to other countries but many of these species have only been recorded or described in the past few years. The Carnarvon flapjack octopus, which was named for the location where it was found, is only known from the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks off northwestern Australia. Its presence adds extra value to these recently established marine parks.” – Dr. Tristan Verhoeff
Understanding Deep-Sea Ecosystems
The discovery of the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus will hopefully lead to a greater understanding of Australia’s deep-sea ecology and biodiversity. The species’ unusual adaptations help tell a larger story about the diversity of marine life in these far-flung corners of the world. As researchers go deeper into Australia’s oceans, they expect to find many more tens of thousands of species.
“From this single research voyage alone, we are seeing many new marine species being described. Incredibly, scientists estimate that there are likely more than 1,000 new species waiting to be described from specimens collected on RV Investigator voyages over the past 10 years.” – phys.org
The ongoing research efforts in regions like the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks are vital for understanding conservation needs. Experts say that these findings will help Parks Australia do a better job at protecting the unique natural values of Australia’s marine parks.
“These discoveries are vital in helping us understand the conservation needs of the marine parks and will assist Parks Australia in maintaining the marine parks’ natural values in the future.” – phys.org
The Process of Discovery
Describing a new species can be an intricate process that requires thorough examination and comparison with existing literature and specimens. For Dr. Verhoeff it’s absolutely exciting to find a new species. Yet with this excitement comes the pressure to ensure precision.
“Describing a new species is exciting but there is pressure to do it right and it takes time, as you have to look at comparative material and go through old literature. Many of the new species I have described have been in museums and other collections for decades awaiting someone to notice them.” – Dr. Tristan Verhoeff
With an impressive eye for detail the biological descriptions are scientifically accurate and add valid and measurable value to the current biological understanding. The recent description of the Carnarvon Flapjack Octopus underscores this highly detailed research process. It exemplifies how long-term research efforts can reveal key discoveries about our planet’s marine biodiversity.