Picture of the Week - Deep-sea Octopi

Megeleledone setebos (bottom left), an octopus species endemic to the Southern Ocean, surrounded by related octopus species that evolved in the deep-sea

(COMI)

By Sarah Zielinski

smithsonian.com
November 14, 2008

Megeleledone setebos (bottom left), an octopus species endemic to the Southern Ocean, surrounded by related octopus species that evolved in the deep-sea. From the Census of Marine Life, which just released its latest batch of finds.

Bonus from the Smithsonian archive: Our Imperiled Oceans: Seeing Is Believing

We Recommend

This Terrifying Worm Snatches Fish From the Ocean Floor (3:18)

Sand strikers, also known as bobbit worms, are primitive-looking creatures that lack eyes, or even a brain. Despite this, they are savage predators who shoot out grapple-like hooks to reel in passing fish.