The Larger Pacific Striped Octopus was first discovered in 1991 off the coast of the Nicaragua. It's remarkable for its dramatic coloration. It switches from black with white stripes and spots to a dark reddish hue.
Academy scientists have been studying it for the last 13 months.
"We've learned so far that they can live in pairs," California Academy of Sciences biologist Richard Ross said. "And that they mate sucker-to-sucker or beak to beak, which is very weird for an octopus, and that they get along. So eventually, we're going to be able to have several on display in the same tank which is very different than other octopus."
The new octopus was unveiled Wednesday in the Cal Academy's Animal Attraction aquarium gallery.
