Fascinating video: This strange creature moves by bouncing on the ocean floor

© Cristian Palmer/Unsplash

In the abyss of Pacific Ocean, nearly 5,000 meters below the surface, an unusual scene has captured the attention of marine biologists. A Cirrate octopus, belonging to the species Cirrothauma magna, distinguished itself by its method of movement, which is at the very least unusual among wild animals that inhabit the oceans: a unique aquatic choreography consisting of a series of graceful bounces on the seabed.

The secrets of an abyssal hunter

On board the ship Dagon, researchers from the University of Western Australia had the privilege of observing this rare spectacle during the Trans-Pacific Transit expedition. At this depth, the darkness is total, because light can no longer penetrate as far, and the pressure is crushing. Imagine the weight of several thousand cars pressing on every square inch of your body. This is about the pressure that organisms living at this depth experience; that is why These have evolved to survive these extreme conditions: gelatinous bodies, flexible skeletons, slow metabolism, etc.

Scientists have been able to document its behavior thanks to sophisticated underwater laboratories, specially designed to withstand deep-sea conditions. This cutting-edge technology has allowed them to capture images of exceptional clarity.

Cirrothauma magna, nicknamed “ jellyhead » (medusa head) due to its appearance, has demonstrated a remarkable adaptation to its hostile environment. A highly developed gelatinous body, a very high resistance to cold and filaments that allow it to detect movements and odors in the darkness of the abyss. However, what really sets it apart from other organisms living in these depths, is the fact that it appears to bounce to move (see video below).

Subscribe to Presse-citron

Observations made between 2020 and 2022 by Dr. Alexey Golikov and his team at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research have helped to unravel the mystery of this aquatic dance. This abyssal ballet is not just a simple mode of locomotion: it is actually a very effective hunting strategy.

With each bounce, the octopus deploys its tentacles, transforming the membrane that connects them into a real capture net. This living parachute, of formidable efficiency, allows it to trap its prey each time it touches the bottom. This technique thus maximizes the capture surface while minimizing energy expenditure, a considerable advantage in an environment where resources are scarce. The researchers also noted that the height and frequency of the bounces seemed to vary according to the density of potential prey in the area.

Behavior documented since 1997

This discovery is part of a continuum of scientific observations dating back to 1997, when similar behaviors were documented in other species of Cirrates octopuses evolving at shallower depths. These earlier observations, initially considered anecdotal, are now taking on a new dimension. They suggest an evolutionary adaptation shared by several species of abyssal cephalopods, testifying to the convergence of solutions developed by these organisms in the face of the challenges posed by life at great depths.

Comparative analyses conducted by Dr. Golikov's team have highlighted subtle variations in the execution of this technique across species and depths, illustrating the remarkable behavioral plasticity of these creatures.

While our eyes (and our finances!) are largely focused on space, Cirrothauma magna reminds us that we have only explored a tiny fraction of the deep:less than 5% of the ocean floor has been mapped in detail. Every discovery, however tenuous, enriches our understanding of these complex ecosystems. Continuing to probe the depths of our oceans is not just a matter of intellectual curiosity; understanding them better also gives us better ways to protect them more effectively.

• A unique Cirrates octopus uses bounces to hunt in the deep, capturing its prey with its parachute-like tentacles.
• This rare behavior, observed at a depth of 5,000 meters, demonstrates the incredible adaptations of deep-sea creatures.
• This discovery is a reminder of the unexplored vastness of the oceans, of which only 5% of the depths have been mapped.

📍 To not miss any Presse-citron news, follow us on Google News and WhatsApp.

[ ]