Largest octopus hotspot ‘on the planet’ found off Calif. coast

More octopuses are hanging out off the coast of Central California than any other place in the world, according to a new study published by Science Advances, which found that tens of thousands of the tentacled mollusks have made a home on the deep sea floor that scientists are referring to as the “Octopus Garden.” 

The groundbreaking discovery was first made by researchers from NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Nautilus Live near the base of Davidson Seamount – an extinct underwater volcano 80 miles southwest of Monterey – in October 2018. Since then, scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, among other organizations, have taken 14 dives on a custom-built remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, equipped with a 4K camera to closely monitor the peculiar creatures and distinguish each individual as they mate, nest and die. 

Researchers were astonished by what they found – a site nearly two miles deep teeming with Muusoctopus robustus, also known as pearl octopus, because of the way the lavender-hued, cold-blooded animals resemble opalescent pearls when they nest on the rocky seafloor. Each individual is no larger than the size of a grapefruit. 

“The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet—researchers counted more than 6,000 octopus in a portion of the site and expect there may be 20,000 or more at this nursery,” read a news release from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Scientists believe crevices in the hydrothermal springs are so popular among the cephalopods because conditions in the warm water are ideal for accelerating the development of octopus eggs. In turn, that can shorten the incubation period and reduce the risk that developing embryos will be injured or eaten. Previous studies have shown that ocean water 10,500 feet deep hovers around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and octopus incubation periods in those conditions can take as long as five to eight years. Conversely, eggs at the octopus garden in water that reached 51 degrees Fahrenheit hatched in less than two years, according to MBARI. 

“The deep sea is one of the most challenging environments on Earth, yet animals have evolved clever ways to cope with frigid temperatures, perpetual darkness, and extreme pressure,” said MBARI senior scientist Jim Barry, who is the lead author of the new study. “We expect there may be many more areas like this that remain undiscovered.”

More octopuses are hanging out off the coast of Central California than any other place in the world, according to a new study published by Science Advances, which found that tens of thousands of the tentacled mollusks have made a home on the deep sea floor that scientists are referring to as the “Octopus Garden.” 

The groundbreaking discovery was first made by researchers from NOAA’s Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Nautilus Live near the base of Davidson Seamount – an extinct underwater volcano 80 miles southwest of Monterey – in October 2018. Since then, scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, among other organizations, have taken 14 dives on a custom-built remotely operated vehicle, or ROV, equipped with a 4K camera to closely monitor the peculiar creatures and distinguish each individual as they mate, nest and die. 

Researchers were astonished by what they found – a site nearly two miles deep teeming with Muusoctopus robustus, also known as pearl octopus, because of the way the lavender-hued, cold-blooded animals resemble opalescent pearls when they nest on the rocky seafloor. Each individual is no larger than the size of a grapefruit. 

“The Octopus Garden is the largest known aggregation of octopus on the planet—researchers counted more than 6,000 octopus in a portion of the site and expect there may be 20,000 or more at this nursery,” read a news release from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute.

Scientists believe crevices in the hydrothermal springs are so popular among the cephalopods because conditions in the warm water are ideal for accelerating the development of octopus eggs. In turn, that can shorten the incubation period and reduce the risk that developing embryos will be injured or eaten. Previous studies have shown that ocean water 10,500 feet deep hovers around 35 degrees Fahrenheit, and octopus incubation periods in those conditions can take as long as five to eight years. Conversely, eggs at the octopus garden in water that reached 51 degrees Fahrenheit hatched in less than two years, according to MBARI. 

“The deep sea is one of the most challenging environments on Earth, yet animals have evolved clever ways to cope with frigid temperatures, perpetual darkness, and extreme pressure,” said MBARI senior scientist Jim Barry, who is the lead author of the new study. “We expect there may be many more areas like this that remain undiscovered.”