Vulcanoctopus

Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, also known as the vent octopus, is a small <a href="/facts/Benthic/N3lM6P7I">benthic</a> <a href="/facts/Octopus/z5uokKFF">octopus</a> <a href="/facts/Endemic/xt4IpIsl">endemic</a> to <a href="/facts/Hydrothermal_vent/0xPqNUkY">hydrothermal vents</a>. It is the <a href="/facts/Monotypic/QvoM9aGP">only known species</a> of the <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> Vulcanoctopus. This vent octopus is endemic to the hydrothermal vent habitat that is located in the East Pacific Rise. 
V. hydrothermalis has evolved unique adaptations to accommodate for the distinct circumstances of this very dynamic habitat. In particular, they are characterized as having double rows of suckers on each arm. V. hydrothermalis has been shown to exhibit feeding that relies on the coordination of their arms to entrap their prey. In terms of external appearance, both the female and male vent octopuses exhibit similar physical traits. Internally, the anatomy of the reproductive and digestive tract is different between female and male vent octopuses.

Vulcanoctopus open-in-new

Vulcanoctopus