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January 1, 2021: Octopus

While exploring an unidentified shipwreck on Friday the 13th during the second dive of the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition, we encountered this octopus, Muusoctopus johnsonianus, writhing all of its arms in a behavior that our resident cephalopod expert had not previously observed in deepwater octopods (check out a video of the octopus). Found in deep waters along the Atlantic coast, this species of octopus is unique in having reverse countershading, light on top and dark on bottom, when compared to other octopods.

Image courtesy of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, Gulf of Mexico 2018. Download larger version (jpg, 481 KB).

While exploring an unidentified shipwreck on Friday the 13th during the second dive of the Gulf of Mexico 2018 expedition, we encountered this octopus, Muusoctopus johnsonianus, writhing all of its arms in a behavior that our resident cephalopod expert had not previously observed in deepwater octopods (check out a video of the octopus). Found in deep waters along the Atlantic coast, this species of octopus is unique in having reverse countershading, light on top and dark on bottom, when compared to other octopods.

Feeling creative? Download a coloring sheet of this octopus from our Ocean of Art coloring book.