A rare new species of deep-sea octopus, the Flying Soot Octopus, is discovered in my country, commonly known as the "Dumbo Octopus"

A scientific research team from the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered and named a new species of deep-sea octopus - the Flying Soot Octopus.This research result combined with the integrated taxonomic method, in-depth analysis of the phylogenetic relationship of octopus, and explored its adaptation mechanism in the extreme environment of the deep sea. Related papers have been published in the international journal "Biodiversity and Evolution".

The genus Sootoctopus (commonly known as the "Dumbo Octopus") is a type of deep-sea octopus in the suborder Cephalopoda, Octopus order, and the Bearded suborder. It is named after the fins that flap like big ears when swimming, and the protruding funnel on its abdomen, which resembles Dumbo the Dumbo in the Disney animation.

Through genetic information analysis, the research team not only confirmed the taxonomic status of the genus Sootia, but also provided strong evidence for its monophyly.The study also supports the recent taxonomic revision of the barbeled octopuses, confirming that the suborder Barbelia can be subdivided into two monophyletic groups, the Superfamily Apochopodinae and the Superfamily Barbeled Octopus. Based on paleontological evidence, researchers speculate that the common ancestor of living deep-sea cephalopods may have originated in a shallow-sea environment.

The researchers further revealed the survival strategy of deep-sea octopuses from the mitochondrial genome level: they may reduce metabolic needs by reducing active swimming and movement speed, thereby maintaining the normal function of the mitochondrial respiratory electron transfer system. This ingenious adaptation mechanism enables deep-sea octopuses such as the Flying Soot Octopus to survive in the extremely deep-sea environment of high pressure, low temperature, and lack of oxygen.

This discovery not only enriches our understanding of deep-sea biodiversity, but also provides important new clues for understanding the evolution of octopuses and their adaptation mechanisms in extreme environments.