Hydrothermal Octopus ( Vulcanoctopus Hydrothermalis)
Hydrothermal octopus is a species of hydrothermal organisms that live in the bathypelagic zone (hydrothermal vent) with a depth from 2,521 to 2,632 meters. [1] Because of their pale color, they have a nickname called “ghost octopus”.
They have unique mechanisms to adapt to the deep-sea hydrothermal environment. The development of ventilation and branchial surfaces helps with oxygen extraction. In addition, an increase in finely tuned oxygen binding proteins helps with oxygen storage and transport. Beside these respiratory adaptations, they also have developed enhanced anaerobic capacities. [2] Their anaerobic metabolic potential declines significantly with increasing habitat depth.
Furthermore, just like many other hydrothermal organisms, they appear highly tolerant of sulfide exposure. They have developed specific ways to deal with sulfide [3] and can move freely across plumes of giant tubeworms [4]. They also have special kind of metabolism called autotrophic and this is the way they can grow and proliferate. [5]
Hydrothermal octopus is a species of hydrothermal organisms that live in the bathypelagic zone (hydrothermal vent) with a depth from 2,521 to 2,632 meters. [1] Because of their pale color, they have a nickname called “ghost octopus”.
They have unique mechanisms to adapt to the deep-sea hydrothermal environment. The development of ventilation and branchial surfaces helps with oxygen extraction. In addition, an increase in finely tuned oxygen binding proteins helps with oxygen storage and transport. Beside these respiratory adaptations, they also have developed enhanced anaerobic capacities. [2] Their anaerobic metabolic potential declines significantly with increasing habitat depth.
Furthermore, just like many other hydrothermal organisms, they appear highly tolerant of sulfide exposure. They have developed specific ways to deal with sulfide [3] and can move freely across plumes of giant tubeworms [4]. They also have special kind of metabolism called autotrophic and this is the way they can grow and proliferate. [5]