Overview

• The Carnarvon flapjack octopus, a small, gelatinous deep-sea species with blood-red tentacles, was formally named and described by Dr. Tristan Verhoeff in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy.
• This species was discovered at depths of 1,044–1,510 meters in the Carnarvon Canyon and Gascoyne Marine Parks, areas surveyed during a 2022 RV Investigator expedition by CSIRO.
• The octopus is a type of 'dumbo' octopus, known for its ability to flatten its body like a pancake or resemble a gelatinous umbrella, and is unique to Australian waters.
• The discovery enhances understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and informs conservation efforts in recently established marine parks managed by Parks Australia.
• Scientists estimate over 1,000 additional species from RV Investigator collections await formal description, highlighting the vast unexplored diversity of Australia's marine life.