Scientists on a 28-day deep-sea expedition off Trinidad and Tobago said they may have found a possible new octopus species not yet recorded by science.

The possible discovery was made during a 28-day mission aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor (too), which ran from June 29 to July 28, 2026, and marked Trinidad and Tobago's first locally led deep-sea scientific expedition.

Researchers said the specimen still needed to be examined before it could be confirmed as a new species. They said the discovery also showed how little was known about the deep ocean off Trinidad and Tobago and why more deep-sea research and survey work was needed for conservation planning and marine biodiversity protection. The expedition was led by Dr. Diva Amon, a Trinbagonian deep-sea biologist with SpeSeas, with scientists from UWI St. Augustine, the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Marine Affairs, and several international institutions.

Possible new species found during first locally led mission

Scientists collected the possible new octopus during work carried out from the research vessel while they explored Trinidad and Tobago's deep waters. The team said the specimen still needed careful study before anyone could confirm it as a new species and formally name it. That work would include examining the animal's anatomy and DNA.

The discovery came during a mission described by the team as an opportunity to explore a poorly studied region. The researchers said each dive could add new information about the seafloor. The expedition added to evidence that much of the country’s deep water had not been surveyed in detail.

Before this voyage, scientists had examined less than 0.001% of Trinidad and Tobago's deep waters. Nothing deeper than 6,562 feet, or 2,000 metres, had been surveyed. About 93% of the country's marine jurisdiction lies beyond scuba depth, so most of its ocean territory has remained little studied.

The expedition also examined methane seeps, mud volcanoes and mesophotic reefs, unusual habitats that can support a wide range of marine life. The scientists used the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian to map, film and collect samples from the seafloor, helping them build a clearer picture of what lived in these waters.

The expedition also tested DORIS, a lower-cost deep-ocean camera lander, which the team said could help countries gather basic data more cheaply. The base unit cost less than CI$10,000, making it far more accessible for small island nations that need basic data to guide conservation and policy decisions.

Another part of the mission tested a simpler cryopreservation method that used temperatures available in a standard shipboard freezer. The goal was to make it easier to preserve tissue from delicate marine animals for future research. The expedition also livestreamed ROV dives, giving the public a direct look at ecosystems that had previously remained hidden from view.

Local science, wider Caribbean value

Dr. Diva Amon said the work carried meaning beyond a single discovery. "This expedition is an unprecedented opportunity to uncover the mysteries of our ocean, while creating opportunities for national engagement in science, education and environmental stewardship," she said. Her comments reflected the growing role of local researchers in leading studies of their own waters.

Scientists have previously recorded 451 species in Trinidad and Tobago's deep waters, but they suspected the true number could be much higher, perhaps more than 1,600. That gap showed how much remained unknown beneath the surface. Dr. Katy Croff Bell, founder of Ocean Discovery League, said, "We have seen a minuscule fraction of the deep seafloor," adding that only solutions such as DORIS would help expand global exploration.

The lack of baseline data has made it harder for governments to weigh marine protection, fisheries management and regulation of deep-sea activity. For island nations, the information could have practical value for biodiversity protection, conservation planning, fisheries and coastal planning. Those uses would depend on whether the data were shared, validated and taken up by policymakers.

Researchers still need to study the octopus's anatomy and DNA before they could formally confirm whether it belonged to a species new to science. Until then, the animal remained a possible new discovery, with only one known specimen. Even so, the find adds to the evidence that Trinidad and Tobago's deep waters hold far more life than has been documented.