Scientists Discover New Tiny Blue Octopus Species Near Galapagos Islands

Washington DC. Scientists have discovered a small octopus species in the Galapagos Islands region near Ecuador. This creature appears extremely small, blue, and with large eyes.

It can easily fit in the palm of a human hand. This new species has been named Microeleodon galapagensis.

In 2015, a remotely operated underwater robot deployed at a depth of about 5,800 feet recorded the activity of this small blue creature in the seabed sediment.

Members of the research team described it as looking like a soft toy. In the video, one member can be heard expressing surprise, saying 'What a cute little creature'.

Why was the research process delayed?

This research process was stalled for a long time due to various administrative and technical reasons. The creature is said to be a female octopus. It was later preserved for scientific study.

It was only brought to the Field Museum in the United States in 2022. As the octopus was preserved in formaldehyde and was in an extremely delicate state, extreme caution was initially taken during the study.

Later, researchers used state-of-the-art CT scan technology. By combining thousands of X-ray images, a 3D model of the octopus was created. This helped scientists determine its body structure and evolutionary development.

According to the research, this species belongs to a new category that does not match any previously known octopus species. This discovery is considered important for understanding marine biodiversity.