Dumbo Octopus (genus Grimpoteuthis)

Marine invertebrateCephalopodDeep sea

Overview

Dumbo octopuses (genus Grimpoteuthis) are small, soft-bodied deep-sea octopuses named after the Disney elephant Dumbo, because of the pair of ear-like fins on top of the body that they flap to swim. They are among the deepest-living of all octopuses, found in the cold, dark waters far below the surface.

Unlike shallow-water octopuses, dumbo octopuses lack an ink sac — there is little use for an ink screen in the lightless deep — and they move with a gentle, hovering style of swimming.

Note: dumbo octopuses are rarely seen and mostly known from deep-sea expedition footage and specimens, so many details of their biology remain uncertain. Treat figures as general and verify against authoritative marine sources.

Habitat & Range

Dumbo octopuses live on or just above the deep ocean floor, among the deepest-dwelling of any octopus, in cold waters worldwide. They are typically found in the dark zones far below where sunlight reaches.

Diet

They feed on small seafloor animals such as crustaceans, worms, and other invertebrates. Unusually for octopuses, dumbo octopuses tend to swallow prey whole rather than tearing it apart, an adaptation to feeding in the food-poor deep sea.

Behavior

Dumbo octopuses swim by flapping their ear-like fins and steering with their webbed arms, hovering and drifting near the bottom. Living where food and mates are scarce, females are thought to be able to carry eggs at various stages and lay them when conditions allow. Their soft, gelatinous bodies suit the high-pressure deep-sea environment.

Human Interaction & Conservation

People almost never encounter dumbo octopuses except through deep-sea research vehicles and expeditions, which have produced most of what we know about them. As with other deep-sea life, the main long-term concerns relate to growing human impacts on deep-ocean habitats. Consult authoritative marine sources for current information.

More photos of the dumbo octopus