Beside likely being a member of a newfound species, this octopod is unique for another reason.
It is the deepest dwelling incirrate, or unfinned, octopod ever found. The remotely operated vehicle was cruising the ocean floor more than 14,000 feet (4,290 meters) below the surface.
“Cirrate octopods have been reported to depth of over 5,000 meters,” Vecchione said, referring to octopods that do have fins. “However, the deepest published reports for incirrates are all less than 4,000 meters.”
Scientists, far from being spooked by Casper’s appearance, are downright excited. Vecchione and his colleagues are considering putting their observations into a manuscript for publication in scientific literature.
From what we can see, they stand more than a ghost of a chance.
This is an incirrate octopod, but call him Casper #JHedzWorlD
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