''Opisthoteuthis grimaldii'' is an octopus found near the Azores. ''O. grimaldii'' lives in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean from deep. This species lives far deeper than other

Opisthoteuthis ''Opisthoteuthis'' is a genus of cirrate octopuses, sometimes known as flapjack octopuses, which are found in all the world's oceans. Behavior Like other cirrates, octopuses in Opisthoteuthis are generally small, and many dwell in the deep sea ...

members in the Atlantic. The type specimen, upon which the species' description was based, was captured near Faial Island. The octopus has been found as far south as Namibian waters and as far north as British waters. In the early 1900s, many octopuses living all over the Atlantic and Indian oceans were classed as ''Opisthoteuthis grimaldii'', but later scientists decided that only those specimens found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean actually belonged to the species. This octopus occupies 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 ...

, a deep area of the ocean where no sunlight reaches. Like many other cirrate octopuses, it lives on or just above the seafloor. ''Opisthoteuthis grimaldii'' is anatomically very similar to ''

Opisthoteuthis borealis ''Opisthoteuthis borealis'' is a lesser-known species of octopus found near Greenland and Iceland, especially in the Davis Strait. The species was described from 9 specimens, and is one of the most recent Opisthoteuthis species described. Not muc ...

'', but the two species have differently structured digestive systems. It has also been confused with '' Opisthoteuthis massyae''. The octopus is only known from male specimens. The largest specimen was long, which is neither very large nor very small for an opisthoteuthid. Mature males have a few enlarged suckers on each arm; enlarged suckers are typical for males in the genus ''Opisthoteuthis''. One potential female specimen has been found; however, it may not belong to the species. The octopus has between 73 and 80 suckers on each arm. A fleshy web almost entirely covers ''O. grimaldii's'' arms. Like many cirrate octopuses, it doesn't have a

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 ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2177900 Octopuses Molluscs described in 1903 Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean Marine molluscs of Africa Marine molluscs of Europe