''Grimpoteuthis discoveryi'' is a small species of octopus known from more than 50 specimens. It was described in 2003, but specimens have been found as early as 1910. The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

was found at 49°35'N, 14°01'W.

Description

At maximum, ''Grimpoteuthis discoveryis mantle is 58 millimeters in length, and its body in total reaches 370 millimeters. Its arms are long. ''G. discoveryi'', like other cirrates, has a web covering its arms to some degree; this species' web reaches 2/3 of its arm length. The suckers on its arms number between 56 and 61. The suckers of female specimens are smaller than the suckers of males, and are also differently shaped. The range in mantle size are larger in females (32-58mm) than males (25-52mm). Th
posterior salivary glands
and

radula The radula (, ; plural radulae or radulas) is an anatomical structure used by molluscs for feeding, sometimes compared to a tongue. It is a minutely toothed, chitinous ribbon, which is typically used for scraping or cutting food before the food ...

are both absent in this species, however, it
anterior salivary glands
are present. The species' body is white, and its eyes are dark grey or black when preserved. It's possible that ''G. discoveryi'' is actually two separate species.

Habitat and population

This species has been found in the

bathyal zone The bathypelagic zone or bathyal zone (from Greek βαθύς (bathýs), deep) is the part of the open ocean that extends from a depth of below the ocean surface. It lies between the mesopelagic above, and the abyssopelagic below. The bathypelagi ...

(also called the midnight zone), specifically from 2,600 to 4,870 meters below the surface. It lives in the

Porcupine Seabight The Porcupine Seabight or Porcupine Basin is a deep-water oceanic basin located on the continental margin in the northeastern portion of the Atlantic Ocean. It can be found in the southwestern offshore portion of Ireland and is part of a series o ...

of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. ''G. discoveryi'' may be a

demersal The demersal zone is the part of the sea or ocean (or deep lake) consisting of the part of the water column near to (and significantly affected by) the seabed and the benthos. The demersal zone is just above the benthic zone and forms a layer of ...

species, occupying both rocky and soft seafloor. While its population is unknown, the species is classified as Least Concern because it lives at such depths, where human activity is unlikely to affect it.

External links

A map of the mid-Atlantic ridge showing where specimens have been found

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q13647906 Molluscs described in 2003 Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean Octopuses Molluscs of Europe