Scientists have discovered a new species of octopus in the depths of the Galapagos Islands. The creature, about the size of a golf ball and blue in color, has been named Microeledone galapagensis.

Lead researcher Janet Voight described the discovery as exciting. The octopus was first spotted in 2015 using a remotely operated camera aboard the E/V Nautilus submersible at a depth of 5,800 feet (1,768 meters).

Researchers aboard the submersible exclaimed, "He's tiny!" and "It's blue!" upon seeing the octopus. They collected the specimen and noted two others that looked similar.

The octopus was taken to the Charles Darwin Research Station in Galapagos, but scientists were unsure of its species. They contacted Voight, who received the specimen at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Voight avoided dissecting the only specimen and instead used micro-CT scans to create a 3D model of the octopus, allowing her to study its anatomy without damage.

This was the first time in Voight's 40-year career that she led a study describing a new octopus species. "These are little octopuses that live in the deep sea, and hardly anybody on Earth has ever gotten to see them," she said.

The Galapagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin, are home to unique species. The surrounding waters remain largely unexplored, making this discovery particularly significant.

Source: www.dw.com