CSIRO-led voyage leads to discovery of new deep-sea species, Carnarvon flapjack octopus, off Gascoyne coast
With massive eyes and blood-red tentacles, the small, gelatinous deep-sea octopus grows to about 4cm in diameter, but little is known about its ecology or lifestyle.
The opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis is the 10th and latest new species to be described from specimens collected during a 2022 CSIRO-led voyage by research vessel Investigator, which surveyed relatively unexplored habitats and seabed biodiversity of the Gascoyne and Carnarvon Canyon Marine Parks for the first time.
Since the survey, researchers, taxonomists and other stakeholders have been working to identify and describe some of these new species.
In newly published research, Dr Tristan Verhoeff, a volunteer systematic taxonomist with the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, described the new species of flapjack octopus.
It is a type of cirrate or 'dumbo' octopus of which there are 50 described species worldwide and 15 recorded from Australian waters. It is a deep-sea shape shifter able to flatten its body to resemble a pancake or to pull itself up to look like a tiny gelatinous umbrella.
Unlike other octopus, they produce no ink and cannot change colour.
'The Carnarvon flapjack octopus' presence adds extra value to these recently established marine parks,' Dr Verhoeff said.
'This species discovery increases our understanding of Australia's deep-sea ecology and biodiversity. Describing new species is also essential for future work on their ecology and assessing populations for conservation.'
Dr Lisa Kirkendale, head of department aquatic zoology at the WA Museum, said the Indian Ocean was 'truly a frontier for marine biodiversity research' and support was needed to 'document fabulous new species, such as the Carnarvon flapjack octopus.'
CSIRO marine national facility team leader Dr Venetia Joscelyne said the 2022 voyage had been vital for increasing the understanding of the region's seafloor habitats and biodiversity.
'This was the first time the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks have been mapped in detail and explored to depths of more than 5000 metres,' she said.
'From this single research voyage alone, we are seeing many new marine species being described. Incredibly, scientists estimate that there are likely more than 1000 new species waiting to be described from specimens collected on RV Investigator voyages over the past 10 years.'
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