Adorable blue octopus is found off the coast of the Galapagos Islands

A blue octopus about the size of a golf ball was discovered near Darwin Island in the Galápagos during a deep-sea expedition in 2015. A remotely operated underwater robot scanned the ocean floor at about 5,800 feet deep and recorded the first observations of the animal. The unusual blue color and small size led researchers to consult octopus expert Janet Voight. The specimen was preserved and examined, with attention to mouth, beak, and teeth. Because only one specimen was available, micro CT scans were created using non-destructive imaging. The CT scans allowed detailed study of internal features and supported the conclusion that the octopus represents a new species for science.

"The 'cute little guy' was first spotted in 2015 during a deep-sea expedition, when a remotely operated underwater robot scanned the ocean floor near Darwin Island. As the camera explored around an underwater mountain 5,800 feet (1,773m) deep, the researchers noticed an octopus. Audio from the recorded footage includes the scientists' first reactions to the animal, with researchers exclaiming 'It's blue!' and 'He's tiny!'"

"Due to its unusual colour and size, the team asked octopus expert Janet Voight for help identifying the animal. Her analysis can now reveal the octopus really is a new species for science. 'Right away, I knew something was really special,' she said. 'I'd never seen anything like it.' During the underwater exploration the octopus, along with other deep-sea species, was collected by the ROV and brought to the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island."

"'When you describe a new species of octopus, you have to look at all the parts, including the mouth, the beak, and the teeth,' Dr Voight said. 'And to see those things, you have to cut the specimen open. We only had the one specimen, so I didn't want to take it apart.' She worked with Stephanie Smith, the manager of the Field Museum's X-ray computed tomography laboratory, to create micro CT scans of the octopus instead."

"'Because CT imaging is non-destructive, it's especially important for type specimens like this one,' Ms Smith said. 'There's nothing like spending the day looking at something no other human has ever seen.' Using "

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