Chilean researchers discovered a new species of deep-sea octopus in the Pacific Ocean, off the country’s coast.
The discovery, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, represents a significant advance for the marine biodiversity of the southeastern Pacific.
The new octopus species belongs to the genus Graneledone and was named Graneledone sellanesi.
Its name honors Dr. Javier Sellanes, a researcher at the Universidad Católica del Norte. He was the one who collected the reference specimen in deep waters north of Isla Mocha in 2007.
The discovery was made by María Cecilia Pardo and Christian Ibáñez, researchers from the Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB).
A new species of octopus with a history in museums
The process of identifying this new octopus species took decades. The first record occurred in the year 2000, when researchers found a specimen off Constitución, at about 1000 meters deep.
Then, in 2007, another specimen appeared during cod fishing. Shortly after, at the National Museum of Natural History in Chile, scientists identified a specimen that had remained unclassified for years.
By 2024, in that same museum, they found another seven specimens of this new octopus species collected between 1980 and 1997 that had also not been identified as Graneledone.
“That review allowed us to confirm that we were facing a new species of octopus,” said Dr. Christian Ibáñez, from the One Health Institute at UNAB.
Additionally, the researchers reviewed biological collections in museums in Germany, the United States, New Zealand, and Chile. There, they compared the specimens obtained through trawling and research cruises.
What distinguishes this species
At first glance, octopuses may seem similar. However, this new species, G. sellanesi, presents distinctive features that differentiate it from the rest of the genus:
- Unique genetic makeup, with a different evolutionary history
- A particular pattern in the skin warts, which vary in number and arrangement
- A specific number and arrangement of suckers, a key feature for its identification
Regarding this, Dr. María Cecilia Pardo explained: “In G. sellanesi, its pattern is particular and distinctive. But the most revealing was the number and arrangement of the suckers.”
Thanks to this discovery, the genus Graneledone now has 11 recognized species worldwide. It is noteworthy that the last time a new species of the genus was described was more than 25 years ago.
“This underscores the importance of the southeastern Pacific as a reservoir of marine biodiversity,” added Dr. Ibáñez about the new octopus species.
For her part, Dr. Pardo described the discovery as “an experience that combines amazement at the biodiversity that is revealed and humility in the face of the mystery of the deep ocean.”
Finally, the authors are currently working with scientists from around the world to decipher the diversity and distribution of cephalopods. Among the participating nations are: Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Portugal, Russia, India, and New Zealand.
