Boyle's flapjack octopod facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boyle's flapjack octopod |
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The Grimpoteuthis boylei is a special type of octopus. It is also known as the "dumbo octopus." This name comes from its fins, which look like the large ears of Disney's character, Dumbo. Scientists have only found ten of these amazing creatures so far.
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What is the Dumbo Octopus?
The Grimpoteuthis boylei is a large octopus. It can grow up to 470 millimeters (about 18.5 inches) long. This octopus lives in the open ocean, which means it is a pelagic animal. It has a web of skin between its arms, making it look like an umbrella when it spreads them out.
Special Features of the Dumbo Octopus
Like other octopuses in its group, the Dumbo octopus has some unique body parts.
- It has tiny, finger-like structures called cirri between its suckers. These help it find food.
- It also has fins that help it swim through the deep ocean.
- Inside its main body, called the mantle, it has a special hard shell. For G. boylei, this shell is shaped like a saddle.
Where Does the Dumbo Octopus Live?
The G. boylei lives in the deepest parts of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. These very deep areas are called abyssal depths. You can find it in places like the Porcupine Abyssal Plain and the Porcupine Seabight.
Deep-Sea Home
This octopus lives incredibly deep underwater. It can be found between 4,190 and 4,848 meters (about 13,747 to 15,905 feet) below the surface. That's deeper than the tallest mountains on land! Other types of Dumbo octopuses, like Grimpoteuthis challengeri and Grimpoteuthis discoveryi, live nearby.
Scientists believe that G. boylei spends most of its time near the seafloor. This is called being demersal. Even though we don't know exactly how many of these octopuses there are, they are not considered to be in danger. This is because they live in such extreme depths, far away from human activities.
How Long Do Dumbo Octopuses Live?
The G. boylei usually lives for about 3 to 5 years.
How They Move
These octopuses have small fins that they use to move around. They can use their fins to swim through the water. They can also crawl along the seafloor. This helps them search for food.
What Do Dumbo Octopuses Eat?
G. boylei hunts for its food while hovering just above the seafloor. They look for small animals to eat.
Their Favorite Foods
Their diet mainly includes:
- Polychaete worms (a type of segmented worm)
- Pelagic copepods (tiny crustaceans that float in the water)
- Isopods (small, flat crustaceans)
- Amphipods (another type of small crustacean)
- Other small crustaceans
When they find prey, they pounce on it. Then, they swallow their food whole.
What Threats Do Dumbo Octopuses Face?
The Dumbo octopus faces very few threats from humans. This is because they live so deep in the ocean.
Avoiding Predators
Their main dangers come from other animals in the deep sea. These predators include sharks and other types of predatory cephalopods (like squids or other octopuses).
To protect themselves, G. boylei has special cells called chromatophores. These cells allow them to change their skin color. They can turn red, white, pink, or brown. This helps them blend into their surroundings. By changing colors, they can hide from predators and stay safe.
