Living things

Dumbo octopus

The dumbo octopus is a deep-sea animal belonging to the genus Grimpoteuthis, recognised for its webbed arms and distinctive ear-like fins used for swimming.

Also known as: Grimpoteuthis, dumbo octopod

How big is it?

30 cm long

Also 11.81 in

Defined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length · defined specimen
Typical recorded range: 20 cm to 50 cm.

Scale illustration of Dumbo octopus, calibrated to its defined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length measurement.
The marked defined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length represents 30 cm.

A little perspective

About the same scale as A4 paper.

A4 paper: A4 paper is an ISO 216 paper format commonly used internationally for letters, forms and printed documents.

True scale
01
Dumbo octopus30 cmDefined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length
02
A4 paper29.7 cmLength
Both marked spans share one linear scale. Artwork keeps its proportions; poses and surface detail are illustrative.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +

Dumbo octopus

A defined 30 cm, 1 kg dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis-type). Species and specimens vary; the complete span includes the webbed arms and paired ear-like fins, with no claim that this is a maximum.

MBARI — Dumbo octopus

The marked defined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

A4 paper

A4 is 210 × 297 mm. Its 0.06237 m² area is calculated from those nominal sides. The marked span uses the exact measurement; the generated paper texture and outline are illustrative.

University of Cambridge — ISO paper sizes

The marked length is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

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Why this measurement?

Why we use 30 cm

For comparison, this page uses defined arm-tip-to-fin-tip length. This is labelled defined specimen: an explicit comparison model rather than a claim that every example has the same value. The recorded range is 20 cm to 50 cm.

A defined 30 cm, 1 kg dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis-type). Species and specimens vary; the complete span includes the webbed arms and paired ear-like fins, with no claim that this is a maximum.

The marked vertical span follows the named feature; transparent margins and unmeasured details do not alter it. How calibrated comparisons work →

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Recorded properties

Dumbo octopus dimensions and measurements

PropertySelected valueRecorded rangeBasis
30 cm20 cm to 50 cmdefined specimen
1 kg500 g to 2 kgdefined specimen

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These links use compatible length records, ordered around the selected value.

Sources and method

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The source records and measurement method remain available for inspection.

Read the measurement and artwork methodology →

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