Microeledone galapagensis: نوع جديد من الثوم الأسود اكتشف في عمق 1773 متر

A golf-ball-sized blue octopus discovered on an underwater mountainside 1,773 meters below the surface has been confirmed as an entirely new species.

Micro-CT Scanning Reveals Unique Anatomy

During a 2015 expedition in the Pacific Ocean, researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus deployed the Hercules robotic sub near Darwin Island. While the initial discovery seemed like a minor find, specimens collected by the team could not be identified using existing cephalopod taxonomies. To solve the mystery, scientists utilized micro-CT scanning to generate high-resolution virtual models from thousands of X-ray slices.

This detailed anatomical mapping allowed researchers to observe specific traits that distinguish the creature from known species. The analysis highlighted a relatively low number of suckers on its arms, smooth skin texture, distinct beak features, and unique pigmentation around the mantle and internal organs. These findings led to the formal naming of the species: Microeledone galapagensis.

Deep-Sea Biodiversity and Unexplored Frontiers

Beyond its striking blue color, the specimen provided biological insights into the species' reproductive state, with researchers finding 13 eggs within its ovaries. The discovery, published in Zootaxa, underscores the biological complexity hidden in the Galapagos archipelago's deep-sea ecosystems.

Lead author Janet Voight, a curator emerita at the Field Museum, noted the exceptional nature of the find. The presence of such specialized life at these depths suggests that the deep ocean surrounding the Galapagos remains one of the most significant frontiers for marine biology. This discovery paves the way for more targeted deep-sea exploration to uncover the remaining undocumented biodiversity of the Pacific seafloor.

Source: Tiny alien-like blue octopus discovered lurking off the Galapagos Islands
Domain: scientificamerican.com