MBARI discovers rare white octopus
On a recent cruise, researchers with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute happened upon a rare white octopus and as they followed it, they were surprised when it spread its arms to reveal a large jellyfish cradled in its grasp.
The seven-armed octopus, Haliphron atlanticus, has only been observed by MBARI’s remotely operated vehicles three times in 27 years. This species is rarely seen alive, and most of what is known about it came from specimens caught in trawl nets.
MBARI scientists say research suggests the octopus was eating the jellyfish, a discovery they say gives new insight on such an elusive species.
