It seems impossible not to love Opistoteuthis adorabilis -- the majestic creature floats through the depths of the ocean with ease, and its huge puppy-dog eyes will warm even the coldest of hearts. Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due - this teeny octopus is so adorable that researchers want to name it Opistoteuthis adorabilis. The deep-sea cephalopod has never been formally named by the scientific community, and little is known about the creature. Dr. Stephanie Bush, of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI), is tasked with formally describing the octopus. "As someone that's describing the species, you get to pick what the specific name is. One of the thoughts I had was making it Opistoteuthis adorabilis, because they are really cute," Bush said in an interview. Several O. adorabilis eggs are currently being incubated at MBARI. Bush and her colleagues hope that, when hatched, the infant O. adorabilis will help them better understand the role that the octopus plays in the deep-sea ecosystem.

(by: Danny Clemens, Science Friday)