![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_tent2.png\")
Dr Lauren Smith with the tentacle. (Image: Collect)<\/p>\nBoffins were left baffled at the rare find in Aberdeenshire.Dr Lauren Smith with the tentacle. (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n
A walker spotted the tentacles of the world’s largest species of octopus<\/a> washed up on a beach in Aberdeenshire.<\/p>\n The remains were discovered<\/a> on Sunday, November 30, Forvie National Nature Reserve at Collieston, near Ellon in Aberdeenshire.<\/a><\/p>\n The local alerted reserve staff and after some detective work the animal was identified as a seven-arm octopus.<\/a><\/p>\n Also known as a septopus, giant gelatinous octopus, or blob octopus<\/a>, they have eight arms like other octopus – but in males one of the arms is also a reproductive organ that they attach to females when mating, external, reports the BBC.<\/a><\/p>\n Marine biologist Dr Lauren Smith, of East Grampian Coastal Partnership, said seven-arm octopus<\/a> were a “remarkable and rarely documented” species.<\/p>\n The deep-sea creatures<\/a> live hundreds of metres below the surface of the sea and females, which are larger than males, can grow to 13ft (4m) long.<\/p>\n Forvie NNR covers about 2,471 acres (1,000 ha) of sand dunes and heath between the North Sea<\/a> and the estuary of the River Ythan and is known for seals and also has the largest tern and black-headed gull colony in mainland Scotland.<\/p>\n Reserve staff described the tentacles<\/a> as a rare find.<\/p>\n A spokesperson said: “We were first made aware that there was something odd on the beach over the weekend, when a local walker spotted part of the octopus on the beach.<\/p>\n “However, we couldn’t get out until after the next high tide when only sections of the tentacles could be found.<\/p>\n “These were something we clearly hadn’t seen before, with a large diameter and big suckers – far too big for the common curled octopus we see around the shore here.”<\/p>\n The reserve said it was first speculated that it could be the remains of a giant squid<\/a>, which can grow up to 14m (46ft) in length.<\/p>\n Hwoever, the suckers<\/a> on the Forvie arms did not have teeth like a squid’s so the reserve approached Aberdeen University’s zoology department and museums, looking for advice.<\/p>\n Eventually the arm were identified as belonging to a seven-arm octopus<\/a>, which has the scientific name Haliphron atlanticus.<\/p>\n “These are a deep water species – usually found below 1,640ft (500m) – so it’s a puzzle how it came to be here,” said the spokesperson.<\/p>\n “They said most of the North Sea – except the Norwegian Trench, which is about 2,296ft (700m) deep – was shallower than that.<\/p>\n “Washed up by deep water currents? Trawled up by fishermen? We’ll probably never know,” said the spokesperson.<\/p>\n “But it’s a fascinating find nonetheless and yet again serves to illustrate how little we know about deep-water creatures.”<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Lauren Smith said: “This is an extraordinary find, to have a deep-water species like Haliphron atlanticus appear here is incredibly rare and offers a valuable opportunity for further study.<\/p>\n “The recovered remains have been frozen down for further study, with some potentially being preserved as museum specimens.”<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_tent.png\")
The remains washed up at a beach in Aberdeenshire. (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_tent1.png\")
The animal was identified as a seven arm octopus. (Image: Collect)<\/p>\n