This sighting of glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) was unusual - researchers are not sure if it is an act of predation or copulation, as it appears to be multiple octopuses intertwined. Glass octopus are nearly completely see-through, excellent camouflage that allows them advantage against both predators and prey.

Scientists Discover Four New Species of Deep-Sea Octopus

Issue 105 - February 2024, Ocean Literacy

Unexpected octopus diversity found in Costa Rica’s deep sea, along with a new deep-sea skate nursery.

A mother octopus broods her eggs near a small outcrop of rock unofficially called El Dorado Hill.
A mother octopus broods her eggs near a small outcrop of rock unofficially called El Dorado Hill. When a female octopus broods (which can be a timespan of multiple years), she does not eat and dies around the same time her eggs hatch. The dorado octopus is one of the newly identified octopus species found during the expedition. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute

Puntarenas, Costa Rica – Scientists aboard Schmidt Ocean Institute’s R/V Falkor (too) have discovered at least four new deep-sea octopus species in a 100-square-mile-sized area off Costa Rica.

The international science team discovered the new species during two 2023 expeditions examining seamounts off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The team found two octopus nurseries affiliated with hydrothermal springs during their first expedition in June. Six months later, scientists returned to the nurseries and confirmed they appeared to be active year-round. They also observed several other new octopus species away from the hydrothermal springs.

An octopus hatchling emerges from a group of eggs at a new octopus nursery, first discovered by the same team in June, at Tengosed Seamount, off Costa Rica. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
Octopus Odyssey Imagery via Schmidt Ocean Institute
A new octopus hatchling swims away from its egg near a small outcrop of rock unofficially called El Dorado Hill. One of the new octopuses is a new species of Muusoctopus and will be named “Dorado Octopus” after the initial location of its discovery. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
Brooding mother octopuses often curl themselves up, with tentacles and suckers facing out. Researchers believe this to be a defensive position, warning predators off. When a female octopus broods (which can be a timespan of multiple years) she does not eat and dies around the same time her eggs hatch. The dorado octopus is one of the newly identified octopus species found during the expedition. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute

Both expeditions were led by Drs. Beth Orcutt of the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences and Jorge Cortés of the University of Costa Rica. The four species were identified and are currently being described by Dr. Janet Voight, associate curator of invertebrate zoology from the Field Museum of Natural History, and Fiorella Vasquez from the Zoological Museum at the University of Costa Rica.

One of the new octopuses is a new species of Muusoctopus and will be named Dorado Octopus after the initial location of discovery, a small outcrop of rock unofficially called El Dorado Hill. It is a related but distinct species from the Pearl Octopus found at Davidson Seamount in California in 2018, the site of another deep-sea octopus nursery. Of the four new Costa Rica species, only the Dorado octopus was observed brooding their eggs at hydrothermal springs. The discovery adds to evidence that the Muusoctopus genus has evolved to brood their eggs in warm springs on the seafloor.

Researchers Celeste Sanchez and Maria I. Sandoval talk in a lab on Research Vessel Falkor Octopus Odyssey Imagery via Schmidt Ocean Institute
(L-R) Researchers Celeste Sanchez (Universidad de Costa Rica) and Maria I. Sandoval (University of Costa Rica) talk inside the main laboratory on board Research Vessel Falkor (too) as part of the “Octopus Odyssey (too)” expedition. © Conor Ashleigh / Schmidt Ocean Institute Schmidt Ocean
Octopus Odyssey Imagery via Schmidt Ocean Institute
Researcher Fiorella Vasquez (University of Costa Rica) processes a deep-sea octopus sample in the main laboratory during the “Octopus Odyssey (too)” expedition off Costa Rica. © Conor Ashleigh / Schmidt Ocean Institute

“Through hard work, our team discovered new hydrothermal springs offshore Costa Rica and confirmed that they host nurseries of deep-sea octopus and unique biodiversity,” said Orcutt. “It was less than a decade ago that low-temperature hydrothermal venting was confirmed on ancient volcanoes away from mid-ocean ridges. These sites are significantly difficult to find since you cannot detect their signatures in the water column.”

Over 160 deep-sea animal specimens collected from the December expedition will be archived at the Museum of Zoology at the University of Costa Rica, adding to the 150 specimens collected in June. This marks one of the first times that all biological specimens will be housed within the Latin American country from which they were acquired following a deep-sea expedition, rather than being sent to the United States or Europe. Housing the collection in Costa Rica enables local scientists and students to easily access samples for research, with the potential to inform regional management strategies for the deep sea.

“The impact of the R/V Falkor (too) expeditions on understanding the deep Pacific waters of Costa Rica will last into the future and hopefully create awareness that evolves into policies to protect the deep sea of the country,” said Cortés, “I hope that the expedition serves as an inspiration for new generations. We need more international collaborations to advance knowledge of our deep-sea heritage.”

Several other discoveries came from the expeditions. The science team found a thriving deep-sea skate nursery at the top of another seamount in Costa Rican waters, nicknaming the site Skate Park. The team also located three hydrothermal springs in the region, 10 to 30 nautical miles from each other. The springs all have different fluid temperatures and chemistries from one another, indicating unique reaction processes are facilitating their formation.

Giant Phantom Jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea) has an umbrella-shaped bell that can grow up to 1 m, and four that can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) in length.
This Giant Phantom Jelly (Stygiomedusa gigantea) has an umbrella-shaped bell that can grow up to 1 m, and four that can grow up to 10 m (33 ft) in length. The arms do not have stinging tentacles, but are used to wrap, trap, and envelop their prey, consisting of plankton and small fish. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute
The science team found a thriving deep-sea skate nursery at the top of Tengosed seamount in Costa Rican waters, nicknaming the site “Skate Park.”
The science team found a thriving deep-sea skate nursery at the top of Tengosed seamount in Costa Rican waters, nicknaming the site “Skate Park.” The three different hydrothermal springs found in this area – separated by 10-30 nautical miles from each other – have different fluid temperatures and chemistries, indicating different reaction processes. © ROV SuBastian / Schmidt Ocean Institute

“Schmidt Ocean Institute supports the global scientific community wherever Falkor (too) is operating,” said Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Executive Director, Dr. Jyotika Virmani, “Drs. Cortés and Orcutt formed a team that truly exemplifies international collaboration which empowers scientists within Costa Rica and enriches local knowledge and understanding of the Ocean. In 2024, we will be operating in waters off Peru and Chile and look forward to welcoming scientists from South America on board.”

About the Organizations

Schmidt Ocean Institute was established in 2009 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt to catalyze the discoveries needed to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet through the pursuit of impactful scientific research and intelligent observation, technological advancement, open sharing of information, and public engagement, all at the highest levels of international excellence. For more information, visit www.schmidtocean.org.

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is an independent, nonprofit research institute located in East Boothbay, Maine. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Bigelow Laboratory scientists use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future for all life on our planet. For more information, visit https://www.bigelow.org/about/.

The University of Costa Rica (UCR) is a higher education institution championing humanist teaching. On March 12, 2001, the deputies of the Legislative Assembly, taking into account the contribution of the UCR to the country, declared it a Meritorious Institution of Costa Rican Education and Culture through Law No. 8098. Since its constitution in 1940, this Institution has enjoyed University Autonomy. For more information, visit https://www.ucr.ac.cr/.

Chicago’s Field Museum connects all of us to the natural world and the human story. The nearly 40 million specimens and artifacts in our collection are just the beginning of our quest to learn as much as we can about this incredible planet. Our more than 150 scientists and researchers travel to the far corners of the world in search of new discoveries and clues to what life was like hundreds, thousands, and millions of years ago. Every day we find new evidence of just how interconnected our world is, and we’re working to build stronger communities to help preserve the planet for all the diverse life that makes Earth home. We ask big questions, publish groundbreaking research for the scientific community, and craft exhibitions to capture the imagination of a public who shares our passion for science that is just plain fun. Science is for everyone. And we can’t wait to share it with you.

This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media