Rare White Octopus Washes up on Shore on Popular Texas Beach

Some people were dreaming of a White Christmas in 2022 in the U.S. but one beachgoer at South Padre Island in Texas discovered something white, and it wasn't sand but a White Octopus.

On Tuesday, December 27, 74-year-old native Texan Judith Groome was on her daily walk, according to MYSA.com when she noticed something rather strange that washed up on the shore. The dead octopus was discovered on a stretch of the beach near Port Isabel and Brownsville, Texas. Her discovery didn't last long as the tide came in and washed the octopus back out to the ocean.

According to an official with the Coastal Fisheries Division, the white octopus is actually common in the Gulf of Mexico. Believe it or not, the rare species is named a "common octopus" and known as a mollusk and it's typically related to clams, oysters, snails, and squid. Mollusks tend to sleep during the day and are very active during the night and are usually found near reefs and in rocky areas of the sea.

Mark Fisher with the Coastal Fisheries Division says this particular species has a short lifespan of just over a year. It's not known if this particular octopus was at the end of its life or died from cold temperatures. The white octopus lacks pigment giving a ghost-like appearance and an almost see-through body for which some experts have named it "Casper." The last white octopus was found in the deep sea off the coast of Hawaii in 2016.

According to a report from the Alabama Local News, the white octopus is considered as intelligent as a house cat. In that case, maybe they should just call it an Octocat?

Furthermore, who lives in a pineapple under the sea?

Here is some information about a white octopus.

Speaking of rare species, Have you ever heard of the Vampire Squid?