Does a cuter octopus exist? Image: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park Hawaii
Back in August, researchers checking out coral reefs in Hawaii’s Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park found an octopus. Not just any octopus, though. The tiniest, cutest octopus in the entirety of the ocean.
“During a surface break from coral reef monitoring our Marine Biologists noticed something small when they picked up several items of floating plastic marine debris,” the park explained in a Facebook post. “This beautiful little octopus was found among the debris.”
It’s likely that tiny creature is an Octopus cyanea, also called a big blue or a day octopus. It’s found in waters from Hawaii to Africa’s east coast, and when they’re fully grown, their arms span up to about two-and-a-half feet.
After taking a few photos with the little octopus, researchers sent it on its way, releasing it in a “small protected space.” According to the AP, it waved farewell with a tiny squirt of ink.
