Scientists find underwater city of 20,000 octopus nests off California coast
Researchers have discovered a massive nursery of approximately 20,000 pearl octopuses near the Davidson Seamount off the California coast. The site, dubbed the Octopus Garden, serves as a critical mating and nesting ground for the species at extreme depths.
Why it matters
This discovery provides significant insights into deep-sea biodiversity and the reproductive behaviors of cephalopods in extreme environments.
Researchers have located the planet's largest known octopus nursery deep off the Californian coast, documenting 5,718 animals in 2.5 hectares and estimating about 20,000 around Davidson Seamount. Known as the Octopus Garden, the nursery is located about 10,500 feet below the surface off Central California. According to a statement released by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) on August 23, 2023, monitoring confirmed that pearl octopuses migrate to the site for mating and nesting.The Octopus GardenThe nursery is situated on a small hill near the base of the Davidson Seamount, which is an extinct volcano located 130 kilometres southwest of Monterey, California. The large concentration first drew attention in October 2018.
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