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Remains of a rare deep-sea animal known as the seven-arm octopus have been discovered on a beach in Aberdeenshire. The initial find, which consisted of arms featuring rows of suckers, was made by a member of the public at Forvie National Nature Reserve near Collieston, close to Ellon, on 30 November. Subsequent investigation by conservationists identified the specimen as a septopus—a male octopus species that, while having eight arms like others, possesses a unique characteristic: one arm serves as a reproductive organ used to attach to females during mating.
Following this discovery, additional parts of the creature have been retrieved from the reserve, including its beak. The beak is a hardened structure that octopuses use to crush their prey. Marine biologist Dr. Lauren Smith from the East Grampian Coastal Partnership emphasized the rarity of the find and noted that samples are being preserved for further analysis. She highlighted the strong interest from the scientific community, stating, “The level of interest has been truly incredible,” and explained that the specimens are currently stored in her freezer pending study.
Researchers and institutions such as the University of Aberdeen, Trace Wildlife Forensics Networks, the National Museum Scotland, and the Natural History Museum in London are slated to receive portions of the octopus for detailed examinations, including genome sequencing and stable-isotope analysis. Dr. Smith remarked on the excitement surrounding the discovery, which has attracted attention from both museums and scientific researchers.
The seven-arm octopus is known to inhabit depths hundreds of metres below the ocean surface. Females, which grow larger than males, can reach lengths of up to 13 feet (4 meters). Dr. Smith shared several hypotheses regarding how the remains might have come to rest on the beach. Possible explanations include accidental capture and disposal by a trawler, predation by a whale, or disorientation in shallower waters leading to an attack by another animal. The Forvie National Nature Reserve, covering approximately 2,471 acres (1,000 hectares) of sand dunes and heathland, lies between the North Sea and the River Ythan estuary and is notable for its seal population as well as Scotland’s largest mainland colonies of terns and black-headed gulls. Reserve staff described the discovery of the octopus arms as exceptionally rare
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