Flapjack octopus animal Type Octopuses and squids Maximum Size 50 cm(20 inches) Depth 130–2,350 m (430–7,710 feet) Habitat On and near the seafloor Diet Small worms, crustaceans, and other invertebrates Range Worldwide About This charming cephalopod made headlines for cuteness.MBARI’s robotic submersibles often spot this little octopus resting on the mud, its orange body resembling a flat, fluffy pancake. When startled by a predator, a flapjack octopus perks up and swims to safety by flapping its stubby fins, pulsing its webbed arms, pushing water through its funnel for jet propulsion—or all three at once. When the coast is clear, it stretches its webbed arms and parachutes back to the seafloor.Scientists think the flapjack octopus we see in Monterey Bay might be a new species. MBARI has teamed up with the Monterey Bay Aquarium to study and describe this “adorable” new species. MBARI scientists have collected detailed video observations of this octopus from the muddy floor of Monterey Canyon, and our colleagues at the Aquarium have kept some specimens alive in their Tentacles exhibition for closer study. Gallery Video Clips Publications Choy, C.A., S.H.D. Haddock, and B.H. Robison. 2017. Deep pelagic food web structure as revealed by in situ feeding observations. Proc Biol Sci, 284: 1–10. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2116 Christiansen, S., H.J. Hoving, F. Schütte, H. Hauss, J. Karstensen, A. Körtzinger, S.M. Schröder, L. Stemmann, B. Christiansen, M. Picheral, P. Brandt, B. Robison, R. Koch, and R. Kiko. 2018. Particulate matter flux interception in oceanic mesoscale eddies by the polychaete Poeobius sp.. Limnology and Oceanography, 63: 2093–2109. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10926 Francis, W.R., M.L. Powers, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2016. Bioluminescence spectra from three deep-sea polychaete worms. Marine Biology, 163: 2–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2 Robison, B.H. 2004. Deep pelagic biology. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 300: 245–264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2004.01.012 Robison, B., R.E. Sherlock, and K. Reisenbichler. 2010. The bathypelagic community of Monterey Canyon. Deep-Sea Research Part II, 16: 1551–1556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.02.021 Uttal, L., and K.R. Buck. 1996. Dietary study of the midwater polychaete Poeobius meseres in Monterey Bay, California. Marine Biology, 125: 333–343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00346314 News News Finding Opisthoteuthis Behind the Scenes 07.13.15 News Dream team of scientists and aquarists gives public first view of a live vampire squid and other deep-sea cephalopods Press Release 06.09.14
Choy, C.A., S.H.D. Haddock, and B.H. Robison. 2017. Deep pelagic food web structure as revealed by in situ feeding observations. Proc Biol Sci, 284: 1–10. http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2116
Christiansen, S., H.J. Hoving, F. Schütte, H. Hauss, J. Karstensen, A. Körtzinger, S.M. Schröder, L. Stemmann, B. Christiansen, M. Picheral, P. Brandt, B. Robison, R. Koch, and R. Kiko. 2018. Particulate matter flux interception in oceanic mesoscale eddies by the polychaete Poeobius sp.. Limnology and Oceanography, 63: 2093–2109. https://doi.org/10.1002/lno.10926
Francis, W.R., M.L. Powers, and S.H.D. Haddock. 2016. Bioluminescence spectra from three deep-sea polychaete worms. Marine Biology, 163: 2–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-016-3028-2
Robison, B.H. 2004. Deep pelagic biology. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 300: 245–264. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2004.01.012
Robison, B., R.E. Sherlock, and K. Reisenbichler. 2010. The bathypelagic community of Monterey Canyon. Deep-Sea Research Part II, 16: 1551–1556. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.02.021
Uttal, L., and K.R. Buck. 1996. Dietary study of the midwater polychaete Poeobius meseres in Monterey Bay, California. Marine Biology, 125: 333–343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00346314
News Dream team of scientists and aquarists gives public first view of a live vampire squid and other deep-sea cephalopods Press Release 06.09.14