Local scientists have collected a specimen of what could be an unknown deep-sea octopus.
The animal was found by a team of scientists on an expedition to explore the deep waters off Trinidad and Tobago.
This team is being led by marine biologist Dr Diva Amon of SpeSeas and UWI, and is currently on board the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s Research Vessel Falkor.
The octopus has been collected and will be studied in detail to determine if it is in fact, a species new to science.
If it is, it will be given a scientific name.
Unfortunately, according to SpeSeas, the octopus is not expected to survive the transition from the deep ocean to the surface, given the extreme differences in pressure and temperature.
It adds that once examinations are done, the specimen will remain in T&T, preserved in a museum collection, where it can be accessed by scientists, researchers, educators and future generations.
The expedition began on June 29th and continues until July 28th.
