Micronesian Dumbo Octopus Shows Off for the Camera

One of the most spectacular deep-sea animals ever captured on our ROVs' cameras is undoubtedly the dumbo octopus, a likely multispecies group in the genus Grimpoteuthis. We spotted this pastel cephalopod while exploring on a never-before-explored seamount approximately 65 km southwest of the coral atoll Ifalik, in Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia. 

This seamount was mapped by our NA180 expedition team from August 3-4, 2026. To our knowledge, prior to our mapping survey, this area was unmapped at high resolution, and there have been no previous deep-submergence dives on this seamount or in this region.

This brief encounter gives us a wonderful look at the octopus’s unique ear-shaped fins as well as the underside of its eight tentacles- each covered in a single row of suckers and small, strand-like string projections called cirri. Watch this glorious creature change color and shape right in front of our eyes!

Ocean Exploration Trust's Deep-Sea Habitats in the Mariana Islands I & II (NA179 & NA180) expeditions are primarily supported by NOAA Ocean Exploration via the Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute, with additional support from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for AUV Sentry’s participation.