Dumbo Octopus – Grimpoteuthis bathynectes One of the rarest Dumbo octopus species, known for its soft, umbrella-shaped body and beautiful lavender color. Its short arms are connected by a delicate web that lets it glide through the water as if it’s flying, while its ear-like fins give it that iconic “Dumbo” look. And the shocking part? This footage was captured at a depth of 3,500 meters — a place where the pressure would crush most creatures, yet it moves calmly as if it owns the deep. #DeepSea

Cue gliding into the weekend vibes 🐙💫⁠ ⁠ Grimpoteuthis octopuses use the movement of their large fins and arms to propel themselves through the water. They are affectionately called the “dumbo” octopuses because of those flapping fins. This group of octopuses is typically found on or near the deep seafloor, where they use finger-like cirri on their arms to catch small crustaceans, worms, and other prey items. | MBARI

The dumbo octopuses, scientifically classified under the genus Grimpoteuthis, are pelagic cirrate octopods. They earned their whimsical name "dumbo" due to their striking resemblance to Disney's iconic character Dumbo, thanks to prominent ear-like fins extending above each eye. This genus encompasses 17 recognized species. | WPLG Local 10