❃ Dumbo octopuses are a group of deep-sea cephalopods named for the pair of large, ear-like fins rising from their mantles. Belonging to the genus Grimpoteuthis and related genera, they inhabit deep waters around the world, with some recorded thousands of meters beneath the surface. Far below the sunlit ocean, these unusual octopuses drift through a cold, dark world under immense pressure.
❃ Those famous “ears” are actually fins used for graceful propulsion. Rather than relying primarily on bursts of jet propulsion like many familiar octopuses, dumbo octopuses can gently flap their fins while steering with their webbed arms. This energy-efficient movement is well suited to the deep sea, where food can be scarce and conserving energy is essential.
❃ Dumbo octopuses search the seafloor and surrounding water for small crustaceans, worms, and other tiny animals, swallowing much of their prey whole rather than tearing it apart with a typical octopus beak-and-radula feeding strategy. With their umbrella-like webbing, delicate fins, and almost otherworldly appearance, these elusive cephalopods are among the deep ocean’s most distinctive residents.