Biology:Microeledone galapagensis
| Microeledone galapagensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Megaleledonidae |
| Genus: | Microeledone |
| Species: | M. galapagensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Microeledone galapagensis Voight 2026
| |
Microeledone galapagensis is a species of small octopus. In 2015, the type specimen was discovered off the coast of Darwin Island in the Galápagos region of the Pacific.
Description
Microeledone galapagensis possesses a light blue, almost colorless, back and a dark purple inner mantle. This reverse countershading acts as a camouflage from predators, while the cephalopod feeds on bioluminescent creatures.[1] This species of octopus has a squat body with notably short arms and smooth, pigment-free skin. It lacks an ink sac as well as anal flaps, a crop diverticulum, papillose dorsal mantle, and thin funnel organ. Orally, the animal exhibits a large, central tooth.[1][2] The octopus measures around 6 cm (2.36 in) from the top of the mantle to the base.[2] The octopus that was captured and studied was a female collected at 1,773m (5,816ft) on July 1, 2015. The length of the mantle of the octopus captured was 31.5mm (1.24in), the average length of the arms was 38.5mm (1.51in), the average sucker amount per arm was 31 and the sucker diameters were 1.7mm. [2] There have been three other octopods observed that appeared to be morphologically consistent with this species that were observed between 1,770m (5,807ft) and 2,006m (6,581ft). All of the octopods observed as well as the one female that was captured and studied were seen resting on sandy substrate.[2] This species belongs to the suborder Incirrata.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The color of this new and unusual blue octopus is what helps it survive" (in en). National Geographic. 2026-05-27. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/microeledone-galapagensis-little-blue-octopus.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Voight, Janet R.; Smith, Stephanie M.; Buglass, Salome; Ziegler, Alexander (2026-05-25). "A new species of Microeledone from Galápagos Islands and an amended diagnosis of the Megaleledonidae (Octopoda: Incirrata)" (in en). Zootaxa 5814 (4): 533–549. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5814.4.5. ISSN 1175-5334. https://mapress.com/zt/article/view/zootaxa.5814.4.5.
Wikidata ☰ Q139963951 entry
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