A rare Dumbo octopus has been filmed by a remotely operated vehicle in the North Pacific Ocean.
The octopus, which resembles the title character of the 1941 Disney film, was seen using its ear-like fins to swim on an EVNautilus live stream, which is exploring the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.
The creature was sighted around 2,665m deep, about 20m from the sea floor.
“Spooky season is almost upon us, and it seems like this Dumbo octopus was getting in the mood by reflecting light from our technology,” EVNautilus wrote on its live stream.
“Watch as this fan-favourite deep sea creature hovers delicately in front of our camera, reminding us of the beauty of this special place.”
Dumbo octopuses are the deepest living octopuses known and have an average life span of three to five years.
They do not have an ink sack, unlike other octopuses, and lack the ability to change colour.
EVNautilus says its mission is “exploring unknown regions of the ocean seeking out new discoveries in biology, geology, and archaeology”.
