Deep in the depths of the ocean, an extraordinary discovery has been made off the coast of Costa Rica. The Schmidt Ocean Institute has announced the finding of a rare deep-sea octopus nursery, only the third of its kind ever known to exist. During an exploration of deep-sea seamounts, which are underwater mountains fostering biodiversity in the mysterious depths, scientists had the incredible opportunity to witness an active octopus nursery and observe the hatching of baby octopuses.
At an astonishing depth of approximately 9,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, the team of 18 international scientists stumbled upon this remarkable nursery near a low-temperature hydrothermal vent. The Schmidt Ocean Institute stated that they believe the octopus species they encountered may be a previously unknown variety of Muusoctopus—a group of small- to medium-sized deep-sea octopuses that lack an ink sac.
To observe the seamounts and the newborn octopuses, the scientists utilized an underwater robot called ROV SuBastian. The discovery of this thriving octopus nursery at such a great depth reinforces the notion that there is still an immense amount to be discovered about the ocean, as remarked by Jyotika Virmani, the Executive Director of the Schmidt Ocean Institute.
During a 19-day expedition dedicated to studying the biodiversity of unprotected seamounts near the coast of Costa Rica, the scientists were fortunate enough to witness the hatchlings, effectively dispelling the belief that the area was inhospitable for octopus development. It is worth noting that the location where the hatching was observed was first discovered in 2013. However, during that initial encounter, scientists did not observe developing embryos, leading them to question whether the Dorado Outcrop was capable of supporting octopus growth.
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This extraordinary finding sheds light on the incredible wonders hidden beneath the Costa Rican waters, offering a glimpse into a world that surpasses human imagination. With captivating footage captured by the ROV SuBastian, showcasing tripod fish, octopus hatchlings, and coral gardens, the Schmidt Ocean Institute remains committed to facilitating further exploration and research, allowing the world to marvel at and comprehend the astonishing marvels of our vast and remarkable ocean.
