Australian marine biologist and photographer Jacinta Shackleton captured a rare rainbow octopus, or “blanket octopus”, while diving off the Great Barrier Reef. She posted videos and photos on her Instagram page.
Shackleton admitted that she was shocked by such an amazing meeting.
“These animals are a very rare species of pelagic octopus that spend their entire life cycle in the open ocean. The first living male was seen only in 2002!” the biologist said.
She added that in her pictures – a young female.
“The colors of her cape were incredible and it was mesmerizing to watch her move through the water. Undoubtedly, such a meeting happens once in a lifetime!” Shackleton noted.
This genus of octopuses is called tremoctopus. Females can grow up to two meters in length, while males are very tiny, about 2.5 centimeters in size.
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