Grimpoteuthis

***Grimpoteuthis*** is a genus of pelagic umbrella octopuses known as the **dumbo octopuses**. The name "dumbo" originates from their resemblance to the title character of Disney's 1941 film *Dumbo*, having a prominent ear-like fin which extends from the mantle above each eye. There are 13 species recognized in the genus. Prey include crustaceans, bivalves, worms and copepods. The average life span of various *Grimpoteuthis* species is 3 to 5 years.

## Species and taxonomy

As noted above, many species collected on the *Challenger* expedition were initially classified in the genera *Cirroteuthis* and *Stauroteuthis.* Several species formerly classified in this genus were moved to other opisthoteuthid genera. A new family, Grimpoteuthididae, has been proposed to accommodate these species and those of genus Enigmatiteuthis. The persistent confusion and disparity about the taxonomy of these species has been attributed to the poor quality and limited number of specimens available for study.

## Range and habitat

Species of *Grimpoteuthis* are assumed to have a worldwide distribution, living in the cold, abyssal depths ranging from 1,000 to 7,000 metres. Specimens have been found off the coast of Oregon, the Philippines, Martha's Vineyard, the Azores, New Zealand, Australia, California, Gulf of Mexico, Papua, and New Guinea. Dumbo octopuses are among the deepest living octopuses known. In 2020, *Grimpoteuthis* was spotted ~ 7000m deep down in the Java Trench.

## Threats

Species of *Grimpoteuthis* face few direct threats from humans, living at depths of 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) and below. Natural predators include sharks and predatory cephalopods. The *Grimpoteuthis* does not have an ink sac and therefore, they change colors and size due to their chromatophore cells that helps them protect themselves from predators. Some color changes can be red, white, pink, brown, or they become an invisible color so that they can blend in with the ocean floor. Besides the threats they face Grimpoteuthis feed on worms, crustaceans, shellfish, and copepods.

## Movement, characteristics and food supply

Specimens of *Grimpoteuthis* have been observed to swim by using movement of the fins. Although it has been suggested that species of *Grimpoteuthis* are capable of jet-propulsion, this has since been deemed unlikely. Movement of the arms can be used to help the animal move in any direction. The arms permit the animal to crawl along the seafloor, to capture prey, lay eggs, explore, etc. Dumbos hover above the sea floor, searching for polychaete worms, pelagic copepods, isopods, amphipods, and other crustaceans for food. Prey is captured by pouncing on the target, which then is swallowed whole. It is also interesting to know that in contrast to other octopuses, dumbo octopuses do not produce ink. This makes sense considering the fact that their habitat is a deep, dark place in the ocean. Instead of ink sacs, dumbo octopuses take advantage of a strand-like structure on their suckers to help them sense the surrounding environment as well as looking for food. The dumbo octopus has a distinct characteristic, what was once thought to be white spot(s) above their eyes, near the base of the fins is transparent patches. These patches function to detect (unfocused) light.

## Breeding

Females have no distinct period for breeding. Females carry multiple eggs in various stages of maturation, suggesting that they have no optimal breeding period. Male octopuses have a separate protuberance on one of their arms that carries an encapsulated sperm packet to the female. After mating, the females can store the male’s sperm until the conditions are suitable to allow the reproduction process to begin. Once the female finds a suitable environment on the sea flow, they plant their eggs on a hard surface such as a rock and wait for the eggs to hatch As with other octopuses, females do not invest any further time in the young after they hatch because once they are born they are able to defend themselves. In 2018, Shea *et al.* determined that *Grimpoteuthis* hatchlings emerge as "fully competent" juveniles with all of the sensory and motor features to survive on their own. Females can be distinguished from males by body type. Females have a much more prevalent gelatinous body type with size being more width than length, having 1.5 to 2 time more short arms. Other differences include females having broadly U-shaped shells, larger eyes, and gills with six lamellae.