Massive Pearl Octopus Nursery Found Near California Deep-Sea Volcano
MBARI scientists documented more than 6,000 Muusoctopus robustus (Pearl octopuses) at the Octopus Garden, a deep-sea hub near a hydrothermally active volcano off California, with estimates up to 20,000 animals. Warmer, ~11°C patches around hydrothermal springs shorten egg development and boost reproductive success, turning a harsh deep-sea site into a dense nursery. The finding, published in Science Advances, highlights how subtle geology can create critical habitats and why such hotspots should be protected from climate change and human threats.