A few days ago this little critter made it to the nightly news. Very unusual translucent octopus, apparently new to science.  Check out the short video:

Okeanos Explorer | Expeditions | NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: 2016 Hohonu Moana: Exploring Deep Waters off Hawai’i | Daily Updates

During the first dive of the expedition to explore on the northeast side of Necker Island, the Deep Discoverer remotely operated vehicle encountered this octopus, which confused several of our shore based scientists who have never seen anything like it. Upon further review, this ghostlike octopod is almost certainly an undescribed species and may not belong to any yet-described genus.

When I see videos or pictures of hitherto unseen animals I always ask myself: What else might be down there that we don’t know about? As the recordings of the Deep Discoverer robot submersible is bringing us more discoveries from one small spot of the ocean, the rest of them waters may hide much bigger, and less cute surprises.

My “Out of the Deep” series of sculptures have been inspired by the thought of creatures emerging from the waves.  In a future blog I’ll show a few of them.

Robert Kokenyesi, Beachfront Pottery; Godfrey, IL