Dumbo Octopuses Information
If you are curious about the Dumbo Octopuses, you are in the right place! We will discuss all the features of this invertebrate, also known as the Dumbo octopus.
What is a Dumbo Octopuses? How does it feed? What are its features? Where does it live? Continue reading for answers to all these questions.
| Other Names: | Dumbo octopus |
| Scientific Name: | Grimpoteuthis spp. |
| Origin: | New Zealand and Australia |
| Diet: | Carnivore |
| Adult Size: | 30 cm |
| Reproduction: | Lay eggs |
| Lifespan: | 3 – 5 years |
Dumbo Octopuses Features
The Dumbo Octopuses is the deepest living of all octopus species. There are different types within this species. As of now, there are 17 different types of Dumbo octopus known.
This octopus has two ear-like fins on the upper part of its body. It was named after the Disney character Dumbo, hence the name Dumbo octopus.
They have a semi-transparent body. While some are short, small, and yellow, others are brown and much larger.
They use their ear-like fins to swim and their arms to navigate. They are slower swimmers compared to other octopuses.
Bonus information: Typically, they are on average 20-30 cm in size. However, the largest recorded Dumbo octopus is 180 cm in size and weighs 5.9 kg.
They are also considered the cutest octopus in the world.
Habitat
Dumbo Octopuses live at depths of 3000 to 4000 meters in the sea. The shallowest depth they’ve been spotted at is 1000 meters. However, in 2020, one was observed at a depth of 6957 meters in the Java Trench of the Indian Ocean.
Unless you have a submarine that can descend 4000 meters, it’s unlikely you’ll see one in person. They are known to be the deepest living octopus species.
They are found in many parts of the world, most commonly in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Azores, California, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Diet
How the Dumbo Octopus finds its food hasn’t been fully observed. However, scientists believe they prey on creatures like snails, worms, and polychaetes.
They have very wide mouths and swallow their prey whole.
Reproduction
They don’t have a specific breeding season. Female octopuses lay their eggs in various areas like coral, shells, or rocks. After that, they use the sperm capsule, which they received from the male, to fertilize the eggs.
They have a very unusual reproductive behavior. The female uses the sperm she previously received from the male and releases it after laying her eggs.
FAQs
Do octopuses have ears?
Octopuses don’t have ears. Instead, they have an organ called the statocyst to detect sound waves.
Are octopuses mammals?
No, octopuses are not classified as mammals. They are invertebrates, meaning they don’t have a spine. They are classified as cephalopods.
How do octopuses reproduce?
They reproduce by laying eggs. The mating behavior can vary among the 300 different octopus species. Commonly, after mating, the female octopus will kill the male.
Kaynak: Wikipedia
