Mongabay · Climate & nature

World Octopus Day: New Discoveries Highlight Ancient Giants and Tiny New Species

World Octopus Day celebrates these intelligent invertebrates, known for their camouflage and tool use. Recent discoveries shed light on their ancient ancestors and newly identified species.

Fossils of an ancient octopus species, Nanaimoteuthis haggarti, suggest it may have reached lengths of up to 61 feet, potentially making it one of the largest invertebrates ever known. These creatures likely roamed the seas as apex predators between 100 million and 72 million years ago.

Researchers have also documented baby Argentine octopuses (Octopus tehuelchus). While this species is common in Patagonia, its global conservation status is undetermined, despite declining catches over the past 50 years. Females guard their eggs diligently, ceasing to eat during this period.

A new, golf-ball-sized blue octopus species, Microeledone galapagensis, was discovered in the Galapagos. Scientists are investigating the function of its unusually short arms, questioning their efficiency in prey capture compared to longer arms.

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