Casper (octopus species)
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| "Caspar octopus" observed in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (near Hawaii) during March 2016 | |
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The informally named "Casper octopus" (or "ghost octopus") were first observed in 2016 in the Pacific Ocean, in waters off Hawaii[1], and animals that are putatively the same species have been spotted off the coast of Ecuador[2] and the Nazca Ridge.[3]
The "Casper octopus" may be an undescribed species or an already described one, but this cannot be concluded without physically examining specimens (the "Casper octopus" supposedly only known from imagery).[1] Based on the footage, scientists have concluded that the octopus is gelatinous. It can be speculated that its deep sea environment offers little prey to provide the energy needed to build muscle (hence the more gelatinous mantle).[4]
The species gained their informal name from their ghostly colouring and bulbous heads, reminiscent of the cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost.[5] Janet Voight (scientist) remarked that the white colour may result from a lack of pigment in their food.[1] Pigment cells, know as chromatophores, would serve little purpose in the dark ocean depths where the animals reside.[4]
The Casper octopuses have short arms and lack the ‘ears’ found in the deep-sea Grimpoteuthis species (nicknamed the Dumbo octopuses).[1] Casper octopuses are believed to be the deepest dwelling octupus species without fins.[5]
Specimens have been observed on footage obtained at depths of 4,290 m (14,070 ft). It is thought that the females lay their eggs on sea sponges.[1] As these sponges grow on hard seabed features, such as manganese nodules, seabed mining are a threat to the Casper octopus.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Scales, Helen (8 August 2022). "Discovered in the deep: meet Casper the ghostly octopus". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- 1 2 Schrader, Christopher (20 December 2016). "'Ghost octopus' has heartbreaking parenting strategy". www.science.org. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ↑ "High Seas and Seamounts of the Nazca Ridge FKt240708 — 8 July – 9 August 2024 — #NazcaHighSeas". schmidtocean.org. Schmidt Ocean Institute. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- 1 2 Dell'Amore, Christine (4 March 2016). "Watch an Amazing 'Ghost Octopus' Discovered in the Deep Sea". National Geographic. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- 1 2 Davis, Margaret (10 August 2022). "Bizarre 'Ghost Octopus' Baffled Scientists: What Is This Ghostlike Cephalopod?". Science Times. Retrieved 7 July 2025.