The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) spotted ‘Casper’, a ghost-like octopus, during an Okeanos expedition off Hawaii in 2016. Since then, it has only been seen once more because this species is typically found at over 13,000-feet beneath the surface. Unlike other cephalopods, this small octopus doesn’t appear to have any color-changing pigment cells.
Before discovering this ghost-like octopus, the only other cephalopods seen at these depths have been Dumbo octopuses. The absence of color-changing pigments could be due to the absence of light at 13,000-feet. Plus, the more tropical the waters, the longer and thinner the arms are found on octopus. Unfortunately (or fortunately), Casper has nothing to do with the Pontiac Ghost Car from the 1939 New York World’s Fair.
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Upon further review, this ghostlike octopod is almost certainly an undescribed species and may not belong to any yet-described genus,” said the NOAA.
