You probably don’t look this adorable when you swim… The deep-sea flapjack octopus, Opisthoteuthis “adorabilis,” is a cirrate octopus—meaning that a pair of hairlike filaments surround each sucker on its eight webbed arms. Incirrate octopuses—like the giant Pacific octopus—do not have these cirri, and are more commonly found in shallower waters.
A flapjack octopus can use its arms as a parachute to pulse about and catch the current, while two earlike fins help it maneuver over the deep sea floor. Find out more about our research on this adorable and mysterious critter!
Can you say “adorabilis”? The flapjack octopus is back on exhibit!
You probably don’t look this adorable when you swim… The deep-sea flapjack octopus, Opisthoteuthis “adorabilis,” is a cirrate octopus—meaning that a pair of hairlike filaments surround each sucker on its eight webbed arms. Incirrate octopuses—like the giant Pacific octopus—do not have these cirri, and are more commonly found in shallower waters.
A flapjack octopus can use its arms as a parachute to pulse about and catch the current, while two earlike fins help it maneuver over the deep sea floor. Find out more about our research on this adorable and mysterious critter!
While there are certainly ghostly, galling and ghoulish critters in the deep sea, there are also adorable animals from the abyss—like this flapjack octopus! 🌊🎃
This adorable octopus in now on exhibit!
The deep-sea cephalopod that captured hearts recently as the “adorable” octopus is currently on exhibit in our Tentacles special exhibition!
The name “Opisthoteuthis adorabilis” isn’t official yet, but it sure is cute! Right now its name (Opisthoteuthis sp.) only reflects the animal’s genus, or family. (BTW, it’s the same family as the animated character Pearl in Finding Nemo.)
In Tentacles, we exhibit this species under a red light. Since it can’t see red light, it thinks it’s in the darkness of the deep sea, its natural environment.
Our partner research organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) collected this flapjack octopus and others last week. We’re collaborating with MBARI to better understand a species that’s new to science. Although it lives in the deep ocean, it’s not immune to the effects of human activities here on the surface.
More to learn
Very little is known about the life history of these animals. They’re one of the cirrate octopuses—a tiny group within the overall family. We may yet discover more species in this group, with the help of MBARI. They’re helping us learn about many deep-sea species, through video observation and occasionally collecting individuals.
In turn, our expertise in exhibiting cephalopods is helping MBARI further that research. It’s a great partnership.
MBARI scientists are also keeping a close eye on a batch of eggs laid last year by some of these octopuses while on exhibit at the Aquarium. So far the eggs haven’t matured, but early research on some other deep-sea cephalopods shows that egg incubation can take years. We’re happy to wait!
Learn more about MBARI researcher Stephanie Bush and how the “adorabilis” phenomenon began.
Now on Exhibit: Two Rare Deep-Sea Cephalopods!
We just added two striking deep-sea animals to our Tentacles special exhibition: the vampire squid and the Japetella octopus. The vampire squid has never been exhibited at any public aquarium before. Both were collected with the help of our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI).
The vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis) is an ancient animal that lives in deep tropical and temperate waters—like the Monterey submarine canyon. Despite its sinister appearance—and its name, which means “vampire squid from hell”—this animal is a scavenger. It lives on “marine snow” that rains down from above: a mixture of poop, dead animal parts and mucus.
The Japetella octopus (Japetella sp.) is a beautiful animal that lives in the midwater realm, hundreds of feet below the surface but well above the sea floor. It has chromatophores that enable it to go from see-through with spots to almost a solid orange color. MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles have observed them on video both in Monterey Bay and—even more often—on expeditions to the Gulf of California.
Like many cephalopods, these animals can be fragile and short-lived, so we encourage you to visit soon and check them out!
They’re in the exhibit where we recently housed two flapjack octopus, which we’ve now moved behind the scenes.
View a video about the vampire squid and the dangers it faces in the wild
Learn more about the (pretty gross) diet of the vampire squid
Photos and videos courtesy MBARI.
Behold the Flapjack Octopus!
Does this octopus look familiar? The “flapjack octopus” is a rarely observed, deep-sea species, but you may know it better as the inspiration for the animated character Pearl in Finding Nemo. It was collected by our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and it’s on exhibit now in our Tentacles special exhibition, which opened this morning for members, and tomorrow (April 12) for the general public!
These images show the flapjack octopus (Opisthoteuthis sp.) in the wild, and on exhibit. We use a red light to display this species. Since the octopus can’t see red light, it thinks it’s in the darkness of the deep sea, its natural environment.
Very little is known about the life history of these animals. They’re one of the cirrate octopuses – a tiny group within the overall family. We may yet discover more species in this group—with the help of MBARI. They’re helping us learn about many deep-sea species, through video observation and occasionally collecting individuals. One of the flapjack octopuses even laid eggs in our behind-the-scenes holding area. That first batch didn’t mature, but we’ll try again if any other individuals reproduce.
Learn more about the exhibit
Down deep, Halloween is real! That’s where some of the coolest creatures ever slip, slide and saunter across the ocean floor–like this flapjack octopus. And occasionally, thanks to our partners at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, we have them at the Aquarium. We’ll let you know next time we do!
Learn more about our Tentacles exhibit
We found Pearl! The flapjack octopus is a rarely observed, deep-sea species, but you may know it better as the inspiration for the animated character Pearl in Finding Nemo. It was collected by our sister organization, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and it’s on exhibit now in our Tentacles special exhibition.