# Dumbo Octopus (*Grimpoteuthis spp.*)

> The dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis spp.) glides on ear-like fins above abyssal soft bottoms worldwide. Adults reach 30 cm and are Least Concern.

- **Category:** Invertebrate
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Abyssal oceans worldwide.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dumbo-octopus/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Mollusca
- **Class:** Cephalopoda
- **Order:** Octopoda
- **Family:** Opisthoteuthidae
- **Genus:** Grimpoteuthis

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Grimpoteuthis spp. |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Habitat | Deep-sea soft bottoms |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Weight | 0.1–0.5 kg |
| Top speed | up to 2 km/h |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Fins like elephant ears

Flapping lateral fins and webbed arms let dumbo octopuses hover just above sediment. Pale gelatinous bodies suit crushing-pressure depths.

## Worms and crustaceans on mud

Prey is engulfed or picked from the seabed; hunting is slow and opportunistic in food-sparse abyss.

## Abyssal plains worldwide

Grimpoteuthis species occur globally on soft bottoms roughly 1000–7000 m deep. ROV encounters are rare but widespread.

## Beyond fishery reach

Least Concern with no harvest and vast habitat. Deep mining and climate impacts are future concerns, not present drivers.

## Frequently asked questions

### Why is it called a dumbo octopus?

Ear-like fins flapping as it swims resemble Disney's Dumbo the elephant.

### How deep do dumbo octopuses live?

Typically abyssal depths from about 1000 m to 7000 m on soft sediment.

### Do dumbo octopuses have ink?

Many deep species lack ink sacs; defence relies on gelatinous bodies and depth.

### What do dumbo octopuses eat?

Small worms, crustaceans, and other benthic invertebrates on the abyssal floor.

### Are dumbo octopuses intelligent?

Like other octopuses they show curiosity in ROV footage, though little is known of cognition at depth.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/dumbo-octopus/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.