Why is it called a dumbo octopus?

Its fins look like the ears of the elephant Dumbo

How do scientists usually see them?

With deep-sea robots and submersibles

Dumbo Octopus Quiz: Ear-Like Fins in the Deepest Seas

This dumbo octopus quiz glides into the deep sea with the octopus named after a flying elephant. Play 10 interactive questions on its ear-like fins, umbrella webbing between arms, depths near 7,000 m, the record set in 2020, swallowing prey whole, no ink sac, hovering above the sea floor and how deep-sea robots film it.

Start Dumbo Octopus Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Name
Why is it called a dumbo octopus?
Fins
What do its ear-like fins do?
Web
What connects its arms?
Depth
About how deep can dumbo octopuses live?
Record
When was a dumbo octopus filmed near 7,000 m?
Prey
How does it eat prey?
Ink
What do dumbo octopuses lack?
Move
How does it often move?
Genus
What is the scientific genus of many dumbo octopuses?
Study
How do scientists usually see them?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Why is it called a dumbo octopus?
Answer: Its fins look like the ears of the elephant Dumbo
Disney's Dumbo inspired the name.
Q2: What do its ear-like fins do?
Answer: Help it swim
It flaps them gently.
Q3: What connects its arms?
Answer: Umbrella-like webbing
It can drift like a parachute.
Q4: About how deep can dumbo octopuses live?
Answer: Nearly 7,000 m
They are among the deepest octopuses.
Q5: When was a dumbo octopus filmed near 7,000 m?
Answer: 2020
It set a record.
Q6: How does it eat prey?
Answer: Swallows it whole
Worms and crustaceans are food.
Q7: What do dumbo octopuses lack?
Answer: An ink sac
Ink is less useful in the dark.
Q8: How does it often move?
Answer: Hovering above the sea floor
It searches for food below.
Q9: What is the scientific genus of many dumbo octopuses?
Answer: Grimpoteuthis
There are several species.
Q10: How do scientists usually see them?
Answer: With deep-sea robots and submersibles
Their home is very remote.

Ears for Fins in the Abyss

Dumbo octopuses get their nickname from fins on their heads that look like the ears of Disney's flying elephant. Many belong to the genus Grimpoteuthis. They flap these fins gently to swim, and umbrella-like webbing between their arms lets them drift like a parachute.

They live in the deep sea and are among the deepest-living octopuses. In 2020 one was filmed nearly 7,000 m down, a record depth for octopuses. They hover above the sea floor searching for worms and crustaceans, which they swallow whole.

Unlike many octopuses, dumbo octopuses lack an ink sac, since ink is less useful in total darkness. Scientists usually see them through deep-sea robots and submersibles, and every new video helps reveal more about their lives.

What This Quiz Teaches

Ocean fans will enjoy these questions.

Why it is called dumbo
How it swims
How deep it lives
What it eats
How scientists study it

Did You Know?

Their bodies are soft and jelly-like.
Colors range from pale to red.
Females carry eggs at different stages.
They are usually small.
Deep-sea sharks may prey on them.