UNAB Scientists Discover New Octopus Species, Expanding Knowledge of Biodiversity in the Southeastern Pacific

Researchers María Cecilia Pardo, a faculty member in the Department of Ecology and Biodiversity, and Christian Ibáñez of the One Health Institute at UNAB have discovered a new species of deep-sea octopus belonging to the genus Graneledone. The finding was recently published in the scientific journal Journal of Marine Science and Engineering.

For both scientists, participating in this process was deeply motivating. Dr. María Cecilia Pardo explained:

“It is an experience that combines wonder at the biodiversity that continues to be revealed, humility in the face of the mysteries of the deep ocean, and pride in contributing to scientific knowledge and to our understanding of the planet.”

“The last time a new species of Graneledone was described was more than 25 years ago,” said Dr. Christian Ibáñez. “With this discovery, the genus now includes 11 recognized species worldwide, underscoring the importance of the southeastern Pacific as a reservoir of marine biodiversity,” he added.

The Discovery of a New Octopus Species

The new species has been named Graneledone sellanesi in honor of Dr. Javier Sellanes, a faculty member at Universidad Católica del Norte and researcher at the Center for Ecology and Sustainable Management of Oceanic Islands (ESMOI).

“With this name we wanted to recognize his outstanding contribution to the knowledge of Chile’s marine biodiversity, particularly mollusks, and the fact that he collected the holotype — the reference specimen for this new species — in deep waters north of Mocha Island in 2007,” said Dr. Ibáñez.

“That same year another specimen appeared in toothfish fisheries, and later, at Chile’s National Museum of Natural History, we identified a specimen that had remained unclassified,” explained Dr. María Cecilia Pardo.

These three records were added to the first observation from the year 2000, when researchers found a specimen of the genus Graneledone off the coast of Constitución at a depth of about 1,000 meters.

“These findings were so significant that in 2012 we published the first report of the genus Graneledone in Chile in the Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía,” Dr. Pardo added.

This marked the beginning of a long taxonomic investigation. The researchers reviewed biological collections in museums in Germany, the United States, New Zealand, and Chile, comparing specimens collected through trawl fishing and scientific research cruises.

“In addition, in 2024 at the National Museum of Natural History we found seven additional specimens collected between 1980 and 1997 that had never been identified as Graneledone,” said Dr. Ibáñez. “That review allowed us to confirm that we were looking at a new species of octopus.”

The Difference Is in the Details

At first glance, octopuses may appear very similar, but closer observation reveals the characteristics that make each species unique.

“In the case of Graneledone sellanesi, what surprised us most was that not only its genetic composition revealed a different story, but also its visible physical traits,” said Dr. Pardo. For example, the small wart-like structures that cover the skin vary in number and arrangement between species.

“In G. sellanesi, the pattern is distinctive. But the most revealing feature was the number and arrangement of the suckers, a key trait that allowed us to recognize it as a species new to science.”

For the researchers, identifying these differences is similar to assembling a puzzle.

“Every detail — from genetics to the shape and arrangement of structures on the skin — helps us understand that we are observing a unique organism,” said Dr. Ibáñez.

According to both scientists, one of the most fascinating aspects is that many of the clues had been preserved in museum collections for decades, “waiting for someone to examine them carefully and interpret them properly.”

International Collaboration

The discovery of Graneledone sellanesi not only expands knowledge of Chile’s marine fauna but also highlights the importance of international collaboration in understanding and protecting ocean biodiversity.

The authors of the study are currently working with scientists from Argentina, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Portugal, Russia, India, and New Zealand to better understand the diversity and distribution of cephalopods worldwide. Their work combines morphological and molecular analyses to better understand the complex evolutionary history of these organisms.