Scientists from the Charles Darwin Foundation have formally described a new species of deep-sea octopus, *Microeledone galapagensis* [1].
The discovery is significant because it expands the known diversity of the Megaleledonidae family. Researchers said the unique characteristics of this species required a revision of existing textbook definitions regarding deep-sea octopuses [1, 4].
The specimen was originally collected in 2015 [4]. However, the formal scientific description of the species was not completed until 2026 [1].
Researchers located the creature on the ocean floor near the Galapagos Islands. The octopus was found at a depth of approximately 1,800 metres [1] — or about 5,900 feet [2]. Some reports describe this location as being nearly a mile beneath the Pacific Ocean surface [4].
Physical characteristics of the species include a remarkably small size. The octopus is no bigger than a golf ball [1]. This diminutive scale is a defining feature of the *Microeledone* genus, which typically inhabits high-pressure environments of the deep ocean.
The identification process involved detailed analysis of the specimen's morphology to distinguish it from other known cephalopods. By formally naming the species, the Charles Darwin Foundation provides a baseline for future biodiversity studies in the region [1, 4].
“The octopus is no bigger than a golf ball.”
The identification of *Microeledone galapagensis* underscores how much of the deep ocean remains unexplored. Because the specimen sat in collection for over a decade before its formal description, the discovery highlights a gap between the physical collection of deep-sea organisms and the taxonomic research required to classify them. This case demonstrates that biological textbooks must remain flexible as new species challenge established definitions of marine life.
