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'Casper' Octopus Discovered
Ghost-like 'Casper' Octopod Discovered
Scientists say a translucent, "ghost-like" octopod discovered in ocean depths near Hawaii is "almost certainly" a new species.
It was found by a submersible vehicle at a depth of around 2.5 miles (4km) off Necker Island. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said it was a depth record for an octopod without fins.
The creature has already been nicknamed "Casper" after the cartoon ghost. The octopod lacked pigment cells, giving it its light-coloured appearance.
"It is almost certainly an undescribed species" Michael Vecchione of the NOAA said, calling it a "remarkable little octopod".
Deep-sea octopods fall into two categories - cirrate, or 'Dumbo', octopods with fins, or incirrate octopods, without fins, which look more akin to shallow-water octopus. The sighting of Casper represents the deepest ever observed sighting of an incirrate octopod, Mr Vecchione said.
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Sources: http://bbc.in/1YhKIn9, http://bit.ly/1XeHb7R
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