Eerie ROV Footage of a Rare Ghostly Dumbo Octopus

While exploring the waters of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Hawaiian archipelago, the ROV Little Hercules captured the rare and slightly eerie sight of a ghostly dumbo octopus at 2,665 meters (1.6 miles) deep in the midnight zone. The luminescent white skin of the seemingly accommodating cephalopod glowed blue under the ROV’s lights.

Looking appropriately “ghostly” in front of our ROV Atalanta’s camera, our Corps of Exploration spotted this cephalopod hovering above ROV Little Hercules as it explored the ocean floor 2,665 meters deep on an unnamed seamount in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

Lori Dorn
Lori Dorn

Lori is a Laughing Squid Contributing Editor based in New York City who has been writing blog posts for over a decade. She also enjoys making jewelry, playing guitar, taking photos and mixing craft cocktails.