Researchers have officially identified a new species of deep-sea octopus, Microeledone galapagensis, following its initial discovery near the Galápagos Islands.

研究人員在加拉帕戈斯群島附近初步發現後，已正式鑑定出一種新的深海章魚物種，名為 Microeledone galapagensis。

The specimen was first encountered in 2015 during a deep-sea expedition conducted by the E/V Nautilus, in collaboration with the Galápagos National Park Directorate and the Charles Darwin Foundation. Utilizing a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), researchers located the organism at a depth of approximately 1,773 meters (5,817 feet) adjacent to an underwater slope near Darwin Island. While video evidence of two additional specimens was secured, only one physical specimen was recovered for analysis.

該標本於 2015 年在一次由 E/V Nautilus 號與加拉帕戈斯國家公園管理局及查爾斯·達爾文基金會合作進行的深海探險中被首次發現。研究人員利用遙控潛水器 (ROV)，在達爾文島附近的一個海底斜坡約 1,773 公尺 (5,817 英呎) 深處發現了該生物。雖然取得了另外兩個標本的影像證據，但僅回收了一個實體標本用於分析。

Due to the rarity of the specimen, traditional invasive anatomical examinations—specifically the dissection of the beak and oral structures—were deemed untenable, as such procedures would have compromised the integrity of the sole type specimen. Consequently, the Field Museum employed X-ray computed tomography (CT) to facilitate a non-destructive analysis. This methodology involved the synthesis of thousands of micro-scans into a high-resolution 3D model, enabling the precise examination of internal organs and external morphology, including the squat tentacles and pigment-deficient dorsal skin.

由於標本稀有，傳統的侵入性解剖檢查——特別是對喙部和口部結構的解剖——被認為不可行，因為此類程序將損毀唯一模式標本的完整性。因此，菲爾德博物館採用了 X 光電腦斷層掃描 (CT) 以進行非破壞性分析。此方法將數千次微掃描合成高解析度的 3D 模型，從而能精確檢查內部器官與外部形態，包括短粗的觸手及缺乏色素的背部皮膚。

This taxonomic confirmation, published in the journal Zootaxa, represents the first new octopus species described by lead author Janet Voight in a four-decade career. The discovery serves as a catalyst for further discourse regarding the vast, unexplored nature of the Pacific seabed and the subsequent necessity for the preservation of these benthic ecosystems.

這次發表於《Zootaxa》期刊的分類學鑑定，是首席作者 Janet Voight 在其四十年的職業生涯中首次描述的新章魚物種。這次發現促進了關於太平洋海床廣大且未開發之特性的進一步討論，以及隨之而來保護這些底棲生態系統的必要性。

The identification of Microeledone galapagensis underscores the biological diversity of the Galápagos region and the utility of non-invasive imaging in marine biology.

Microeledone galapagensis 的鑑定凸顯了加拉帕戈斯地區的生物多樣性，以及非侵入性影像技術在海洋生物學中的實用性。