A New Species of Tiny Octopus Was Discovered in the Galápagos Islands | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoLivestreamsMerchSearchSearchMarta MussoScienceMay 27, 2026 5:30 AMA New Species of Tiny Octopus Was Discovered in the Galápagos IslandsAn octopus about the size of a golf ball was first spotted in 2015 near Darwin Island. A new study gives it both a formal description and a name.Courtesy Charles Darwin FoundationCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyA tiny blue octopus that lives in the deep sea off the coast of the Galápagos Islands is so small that it can fit in the palm of a hand. And as a team of researchers coordinated by Chicago's Field Museum announced in a new study just published in the journal Zootaxa, it now has an official name—Microeledone galapagensis.The octopus was first spotted in 2015 during a deep-sea expedition aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus. From there, marine biologists used a remotely operated underwater vehicle (RoV) to explore the ocean floor near Darwin Island, at the northern end of the Galápagos archipelago. As the RoV's camera moved across the seafloor near an underwater slope at a depth of 1,773 meters (5,817 feet), they noticed the tiny octopus with its vibrant blue coloring.By performing a close inspection, the researchers were able to recover the blue octopus and film two other specimens, and then, at the end of the mission, conduct a thorough analysis. It left them puzzled, however, as they were not certain which species it belonged to. So they contacted Field Museum expert Janet Voight, sending her a photo of the animal. “Right away, I knew it was something really special,” said Voight, lead author of the new study. “I’d never seen anything like it.” However, to determine whether an animal belongs to a new species requires a complete analysis of all its body parts, and since the blue octopus was the only one of its kind ever collected, the experts did not want to dissect and thus lose such a valuable specimen.To overcome this problem, the authors used x-ray computed tomography to create and assemble thousands of CT micro-scans, which then allowed them to create a 3D model of the blue octopus, both internally and externally. The researchers were able to observe the most minute details, from the tentacles (squat, with few suckers) to the smooth skin (almost devoid of pigment on the back) to a specific funnel-shaped organ, thus obtaining the information needed to classify it as a new species and place it among other cephalopods. "Because CT imaging is nondestructive, it's especially important for type specimens like this one," said coauthor Stephanie Smith. “And that's great for me, because people are often bringing me these incredibly rare and stunningly beautiful specimens that I get the privilege of virtually opening up.”In addition to describing the new species, the blue octopus reminds us how much we still don't know about the ocean depths, how crucial these expeditions and research are to better understand these still unexplored ecosystems, and why protecting them is so important.“These are little octopuses that live in the deep sea, and hardly anybody on Earth has ever gotten to see them. I just feel lucky that I got to work with them,” said Voight. “If you took all the land on Earth and pieced it together, you would not cover the Pacific Ocean. The oceans are so big, and there’s so much left to explore.”This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeHow to find us: Add WIRED.com to your preferred sources in GoogleHow the Canvas hack threatened thousands of schoolsBig Story: I've covered robots for years—this one is eerily lifelikeOrbs, saucers, and flashes on the moon—here’s what’s in the UFO filesTake our survey: What does “home” mean to you?TopicsanimalsBiologymarine scienceoceanscephalopodsRead MoreA 'Golden Orb' on the Ocean Floor Came From a Mysterious AnimalA fascinating, unclassifiable orb found in the Gulf of Alaska is not an alien object, as some speculated, but the remains of a poorly documented animal.Jorge GarayMexico City Is Sinking. 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A new species of tiny blue octopus was formally described and named Microeledone galapagensis following a deep-sea expedition near the Galápagos Islands. This minuscule cephalopod, approximately the size of a golf ball, was first observed in 2015 during an expedition aboard the research vessel E/V Nautilus. Marine biologists utilized a remotely operated underwater vehicle to explore the seafloor near Darwin Island, specifically examining an underwater slope at a depth of 1,773 meters. During this exploration, the researchers noted the vibrant blue coloration of the tiny octopus.

To determine the species of the newly discovered animal, the researchers, coordinated by the Field Museum, employed advanced non-destructive imaging techniques. Because the octopus was unique and the experts wished to preserve the specimen, they avoided dissection. Instead, they employed x-ray computed tomography to generate thousands of micro-scans, which facilitated the creation of a comprehensive three-dimensional model detailing the octopus both internally and externally. This imaging allowed the researchers to observe minute biological details, including the structure of the tentacles, the texture of the skin, and specific organs, which provided the necessary information to classify the creature as a novel species within the order Cephalopoda. The importance of this non-destructive approach was highlighted by the authors, as it was crucial for obtaining data on this rare specimen.

The process underscored the profound gaps in current scientific understanding regarding unexplored ocean depths and emphasized the necessity of deep-sea expeditions for comprehending these ecosystems. The work serves as a reminder of the vastness of the ocean and the critical need for environmental protection of these unexplored habitats. Lead author Janet Voight noted the privilege of working with these deep-sea organisms and reflected on the immense amount of the ocean that remains unknown, suggesting that the exploration of the oceans is vital for understanding the planet. Furthermore, the description of the octopus contributes to the broader context of marine science by illuminating the importance of rigorous research in understanding hitherto unexplored biological diversity.