Grimpoteuthis bathynectes is a deepwater species of so-called Dumbo octopus first described in 1990. So far only thirteen specimens have been recorded.
This species appears orange in color and has two eyes. They have dorsal arms with 47–58 suckers. Each sucker has a pair of cirri, which are thought to have a role in feeding, by creating currents of water that help bring food closer to their mouth or beak. They feed on worms, bivalves, copepods and crustaceans. The male reproductive tract shows variation between species, and there is confusion identifying certain parts. The Grimpoteuthis Bathynectes is an organism that primarily uses its two fins on its mantle to navigate through the deep ocean floors. They have many unique structures since they dwell in the deep oceans like transparent patches that help them detect light and shell or mantle that makes this species of octopus very different from the rest, meaning not all octopuses have that shell-like structure or transparent patches of skin allowing them to thrive in the deep ocean floor.
Species of this family are believed to exist on the deep ocean floor in all oceans of the world. Specific species have been found in the waters surrounding New Zealand, Australia, Monterey Bay, Oregon, Philippines, Martha's Vineyard, Papua, New Guinea and the Azores. Grimpoteuthis are benthic creatures, living basically at the bottom of the ocean at depths of around 3,000–4,000m.
