''Grimpoteuthis innominata'' is a species of small, pelagic octopus only known from two specimens.

Steve O'Shea Steve O'Shea (born 14 December 1965 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a marine biologist and environmentalist known for his research on giant squid. O'Shea obtained his degrees from Auckland university. He undertook a Bachelor of Science between 1984 ...

discovered it in 1999, and created the genus ''Enigmateuthis'' to contain it. Martin Collins placed the species in the genus ''Grimpoteuthis''.

Description and habitat

''Grimpoteuthis innominata'' has been found in

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 productive ...

to the east of New Zealand, where it lives 2,000 meters deep in open ocean. Like other members of Grimpoteuthidae, ''G. innominata'' is most likely

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 ...

. This octopus' mantle reaches 43 millimeters long, and its total body is 156 millimeters long. It has an internal

shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard ou ...

shaped like the letter "U". Its lobelike fins and the shape of its shell help separate it from other species of ''Grimpoteuthis'' living in the Pacific Ocean. There are between 50 and 60 suckers on each arm of the octopus, and the suckers of males are larger than those of females.

References

Octopuses Cephalopods of Oceania Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean Molluscs described in 1999 Endemic fauna of New Zealand Endemic molluscs of New Zealand Molluscs of New Zealand Fauna of the Chatham Islands {{octopus-stub