Overview
- The tiny blue octopus was first spotted in 2015 during an E/V Nautilus deep‑sea dive near Darwin Island at about 1,773 meters depth.
- The team recovered a single physical specimen and recorded at least two similar animals on ROV video during the same expedition.
- Scientists created thousands of micro‑CT scans to build a nondestructive 3D model and examine internal and external anatomy without cutting the lone type specimen.
- Distinct features — squat tentacles with few suckers, almost pigment‑free smooth skin, and a particular funnel‑shaped organ — supported the formal description and the name Microeledone galapagensis in Zootaxa.
- Researchers say the find shows the value of museum stewardship and imaging tools for rare samples and underscores large gaps in deep‑sea biodiversity that require more ROV surveys, sampling, and protective research efforts.