DEEP DARK: Dumbo Octopus ("Nardo")

Size: Up to 12 inches

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“Ears”
The Dumbo octopus looks a lot like Walt Disney’s flying elephant Dumbo and uses its “ears” to fly. The “ears” are really fins.

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“Tongue”
A little flap of skin adds the finishing touch that makes the Dumbo octopus one of the sea’s cutest creatures with their “tongue” hanging out.

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Depth
The Dumbo octopus lives deeper than any other octopus (13,000 feet!).

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NOAA OKEANOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOAA OKEANOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MBARI 2003

 

Video (Source: Smithsonian Institution)
This excellent video shows a Dumbo Octopus swimming.

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Original concept sketch for “Nardo”