''Grimpoteuthis angularis'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of octopus in the family

Opisthoteuthidae Umbrella octopuses (family Opisthoteuthidae) are a group of pelagic octopuses. Umbrella octopuses are characterized by a web of skin between the tentacles, causing them to somewhat resemble an opened umbrella when the tentacles are spread. De ...

. It was first described by Tristan J Verhoeff and Steve O'Shea in 2022, based on a single specimen found in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

Taxonomy

The species was given the name ''angularis'', referring to the octopus' angled shell. Verhoeff & O'Shea proposed that the common name of the species should be angle-shelled dumbo octopus. This species (as well as other ''Grimpoteuthis'') may belong in its own family, the Grimpoteuthididae .

Description and habitat

The shell of ''Grimpoteuthis angularis'' is V-shaped, notably different to other ''Grimpoteuthis'', the relatively elongate cirri are also distinctive. The holotype was discovered on the

Chatham Rise The Chatham Rise is an area of ocean floor to the east of New Zealand, forming part of the Zealandia continent. It stretches for some from near the South Island in the west, to the Chatham Islands in the east. It is New Zealand's most productiv ...

to the east of

, at a depth of 628 metres.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q115274053 Cephalopods of Oceania Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic molluscs of New Zealand Fauna of the Chatham Islands Molluscs described in 2022 Molluscs of New Zealand Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Octopuses Species known from a single specimen