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Species and Taxonomy
As noted above, many species collected on the Challenger expedition were initially classified in the genera Cirroteuthis and Stauroteuthis. Several species formerly classified in this genus were moved to other opisthoteuthid genera. A new family, Grimpoteuthididae, has been proposed to accommodate these species and those of genus Enigmatiteuthis. The persistent confusion and disparity about the taxonomy of these species has been attributed to the poor quality and limited number of specimens available for study.

Species

 * Grimpoteuthis abyssicola O'Shea, 1999, red jellyhead
 * Grimpoteuthis bathynectes Voss & Pearcy, 1990
 * Grimpoteuthis boylei Collins, 2003
 * Grimpoteuthis challengeri Collins, 2003
 * Grimpoteuthis discoveryi Collins, 2003
 * Grimpoteuthis hippocrepium (Hoyle, 1904)
 * Grimpoteuthis innominata (O'Shea, 1999), small jellyhead
 * Grimpoteuthis meangensis (Hoyle, 1885)
 * Grimpoteuthis megaptera (Verrill, 1885)
 * Grimpoteuthis pacifica (Hoyle, 1885)
 * Grimpoteuthis plena (Verrill, 1885)
 * Grimpoteuthis tuftsi Voss & Pearcy, 1990
 * Grimpoteuthis umbellata (P. Fischer, 1884)
 * Grimpoteuthis wuelkeri (Grimpe, 1920) – possibly same as G. umbellata or G. plena

Several species formerly classified in this genus were moved to other opisthoteuthid genera. There has been some confusion and disparity among scientists about the classification of these different species due to the poor quality and limited number of specimens available for study.

Movement, characteristics and food supply
Grimpoteuthis employs four modes of locomotion: crawling, take-off, fin-swimming, and pumping. These modes were observed from a submersible expedition in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean. Crawling is observed in response to a disturbance caused by the submersible. The organism, starting from a position of bottom-resting, exhibits backward motion on the sea-floor. Take-off behavior, another response to submersibles, follows either bottom-resting or crawling. The organism contracts its brachial crown which creates a rapid pulsation. Sometimes in conjunction with this propulsion, Grimpoteuthis will take on a fusiform shape, which serves to create a more favorable hydrodynamic position. Following this take-off behavior, the organisms are observed swimming with their fins in a backwards motion. Whilst it appears that the large fins on the side of the head are propelling the creature, it is actually a siphon, pushing water out the back, creating propulsion. The fins are in fact primarily used for stabilization and steering. Movement of the arms can be used to help the animal move in any direction. The arms permit the animal to crawl along the seafloor, to capture prey, lay eggs, and explore. Dumbos hover above the sea floor, searching for polychaete worms, pelagic copepods, isopods, amphipods, and other crustaceans for food. Prey is captured by pouncing on the target, which then is swallowed whole. Dumbo octopuses do not produce ink. Instead of ink sacs, dumbo octopuses take advantage of a strand-like structure on their suckers to help them sense the surrounding environment as well as looking for food. The dumbo octopus has transparent patches near the base of the fins, which function to detect (unfocused) light.

Morphology
Grimpoteuthis, growing up to 20 centimeters, are a part of the Cirrina suborder, recognized for their use of fins as a primary source of locomotion. The two large fins that exist in Grimpoteuthis are supported by a large internal shell, differing from other octopuses which present no shell of any kind. These fins have a length approximately equal to the mantle's width. The dumbo octopus also have webbed arms, stretching out to the tip of their arms with suckers in a single row along their arm, with two cirri present per sucker. The sucker aperture do not present any tooth-like structures, inferring that these creatures swallow their prey whole. Their radula tends to be reduced or completely absent due to this behavior. The Grimpoteuthis digestive system includes intestines approximately equal to the length of their esophagus and a digestive tract arranged in a U-shape. These creatures also have an absent ink sacs and anal flaps. These creatures present a U or slightly W-shaped cartilaginous shell. In terms of sight, their optic nerve pass through their body as a single bundle, and their optic lobe is circular from a cross-section view. Their eyes are very large, with a diameter of up to up one-third of the width of their head. In Collins and Villanueve's diagnosis of the genus they state:"'Small-to-large grimpoteuthids with medium-to-large lateral fins, each with a distinct lobe near the anterior fin insertion. Shell vestige U-shaped; lateral sides parallel, not tapered to fine points. Radula monodont or absent. Posterior salivary glands small or absent. Web supported by single fleshy nodules on the ventral side of the arms. Digestive gland entire (single lobe). Sucker sexual dimorphism present in some species, but with single enlarged field.'"