New species of octopus discovered in a deep-sea canyon

June 2025

Zoology - Invertebrate

A new species of flapjack octopus was discovered during a 2022 CSIRO voyage aboard the RV Investigator and has been described by TMAG Volunteer Dr Verhoeff in newly published research.

The species has been named Opisthoteuthis carnarvonensis, or the Carnarvon flapjack octopus, for the location in which it was found.

This exciting find reminds us how much there still is to discover — and how vital taxonomy is in understanding our natural world.

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.”

Earlier this year, Dr Verhoeff described another new octopus species from specimens collected on the same 2022 voyage and has also described several other new species from earlier voyages by RV Investigator and previous CSIRO research vessels.

He recently named one new deep-sea octopus species Cirroteuthis kirrilyae, honouring TMAG Invertebrate Zoology Collections Manager, Dr Kirrily Moore.

Read more about the discovery at: New species of octopus discovered in a deep-sea canyon (CSIRO).