A new species of octopus, named Microeledone galapagensis, has been identified off the Galapagos Islands, first spotted during a 2015 deep-sea expedition aboard the research vessel EV Nautilus. The octopus was discovered at a depth of 5,800 feet near Darwin Island when a remotely operated robot captured its image. Researchers collected this palm-sized blue octopus, which stood out among other specimens. Due to the uniqueness of the find, the team utilized CT imaging to examine its internal structures without damaging the single specimen available. This non-destructive technique allowed them to confirm it as a new species. Janet Voight, one of the study's authors, expressed the significance of the discovery, noting how little of the ocean has been explored. Salome Buglass from UCLA highlighted the importance of understanding new species to protect ocean ecosystems. The study, published in the journal Zootaxa, emphasizes the need for continued exploration of the ocean's depths.