Pokemon-like octopus (Photo : YouTube)
A tiny and pink octopus that resembles an appearance between a Pokemon and a puppy has been recently discovered.
Stephanie Bush, a postdoctoral researchers at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), is the one responsible in giving an official name to the anonymous octopus. MBARI wants to name the adorable sea creature Adorabilis. The octopus belongs to the genus Opisthoteuthis, and Bush plans to name it as Opisthoteuthis adorabilis.
"As someone that's describing the species, you get to pick what the specific name is. One of the thoughts I had was making it Opisthoteuthis adorabilis because they're really cute," Bush told Science Friday.
Bush was given the right to name the Pokemon-like octopus because she has observed that the species possessed a unique set of stumpy tentacles as compared to its relatives. She studied the internal and external anatomy of the unnamed species, discovering its overall uniqueness.
The Pokemon-like octopus lingers on the ocean floor most of the time. It uses its short and stumpy tentacles to fly over just above the seafloor for finding food. Usually, it looks for worms and small crustaceans. This deep-sea cephalopod measures 7-inches and its ear-like fins atop of its head help the cute sea creature to maneuver.
The species has a weird way of moving around. Its fins pulses its webbed arms or pushes the water via its funnel for jet propulsion, or all at the same time.
MBARI researchers have used a remotely-operated vehicle to capture the adorable octopus. They have collected around 15 species in over a year. Since 1990, scientists have been collecting this octopus specie, but they have not discovered how it survives in an unfavorable underwater environment with depths of 984 to 1,476 feet.
