"Casper" is real!

[TomK]

For those who have not seen this, a new species of octopus has been discovered in the Hawaiian Archipelago. At about a depth of 2.5 miles (about the same depth as Mauna Kea's summit is above sea level) this critter was found. It's being called Casper for obvious reasons.

http://goo.gl/f7WSg8

Video:

http://goo.gl/3ttflO

(Both are links to NOAA sites).

[PaulW]

Unreal!

[birdmove]

Very cool!!

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[Tink]

Aloha Casper!

Community begins with Aloha

[mermaid53]

Thanks TomK for sharing this info...always exciting to hear about new species of life on our planet.

Very cute, esp in the distant photo shot where Casper could be easily spotted glowing in the darkness.

Is it possible Casper is an albino??? Are there such things in sea creatures? Just asking....

[EightFingers]

Does it come in teriyaki?

[Guest]

Very cool to see new or rarely seen creatures that we live with on this planet. Here are a few other hawaiian only and very rarely seen critters.

https://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/N...-Bugs.aspx

P.S. great question mermaid, Albino seems like a possibility. Doubt that Ika ever saw the daylight either though.

http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2009/11/1...o-animals/

[TomK]

Mermaid,

"Is it possible Casper is an albino??? Are there such things in sea creatures? Just asking...."

There are albino sea creatures, but as to whether this is an albino or just a new species which is white is impossible to say. All we have is one example. On the other hand, assuming it is a new species, the chances of spotting one for the first time and it happens to be a rare albino is very remote. Then again, perhaps the rest of the species is so well camouflaged we've never seen them and this one was easier to spot! It's just a question that can't be answered right now.

8F - funny!

[mermaid53]

gypsy69 thanks so much for sharing the link to amazing albino animals. Definitive proof there are albino sea creatures. That sea turtle was amazing.

You're correct TomK, it is too early to know whether Casper, a new species, is an albino or not.

[TomK]

Mermaid,

I think it's very unlikely Casper is an albino although it can't be ruled out. My comment about other members of the species was a little tongue-in-cheek. At a depth of 2.5 miles there is no light, so camouflage really doesn't come into play. For critters that live in sunlight, being an albino is a serious disadvantage as they are easy to spot, but not so much in the dark. I would bet a lot of money this is a new species of white octopus.