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: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/News/2025/May/New-species-of-octopus-discovered-in-a-deep-sea-canyon.