Once upon a time, the research submarine #ALVIN observed (and photographed!) a colossal #Grimpoteuthis #Octopus in the #Galapagos — reportedly it measured 4 meters (~13’) in length! If true, this would be the largest octopus ever*. Alas, we know little of the unpublished encounter and perhaps there was a mistake (e.g. the length could have been the arm-span)… I’m still holding on to a sliver of hope!

* #Haliphron_atlanticus may reach 3.5m and isn’t as compact.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012751412350022X?via%3Dihub