Deep-sea cameras in the Pacific Ocean have captured images of the glass octopus, which has a transparent skin that reveals its internal organs.
Nature is always full of mysteries, and one of them is the beautiful, transparent animals. The glass octopus is one of the most enigmatic creatures in the world, residing in deep ocean waters that are difficult to explore and possessing highly sensitive eyesight.
Recently, a team of researchers exploring the deepest waters of the Pacific Ocean discovered this rare glass octopus.
This incredible creature has a transparent body, allowing its internal organs to be clearly visible to the naked eye. The expedition team found this unusual organism near the remote and sparsely populated Phoenix Islands, east of Kiribati.
The glass octopus has a transparent body that clearly reveals all internal organs.
Scientifically named Vitreledonella richardi, the glass octopus was first identified in 1918. However, due to its habitat in extremely deep waters, it is rarely photographed. Previous studies on this creature were limited to analyzing specimens obtained from the stomachs of predators.
Dr. Jyotika Virmani, Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, stated: “The expedition made an exciting discovery of some of the rarest and most fascinating creatures in the ocean.”
The glass octopus can reach a total body length of about 45 cm in adults. Juveniles have equal-length tentacles, while adults have much longer tentacles. Their eyes are almost rectangular in shape.
The Phoenix Islands are home to one of the largest coral ecosystems in the world. In addition to the glass octopus, researchers observed a variety of other species during 21 dives that lasted over 182 hours.
They encountered a whale shark approximately 1.2 meters long and a crab stealing fish from another, a unique behavior rarely seen in the ocean.
Dr. Tim Shank, a biologist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, noted: “Looking at these deep-sea communities has changed our thinking about how organisms live and how they maintain diversity in the deep ocean. The ocean contains wonders and promises that humanity has yet to fully imagine.”
Expeditions like this show us why it is essential to enhance efforts to restore and better understand marine ecosystems everywhere. Because the remarkable chain of life that begins in the ocean is crucial to human health and happiness.”