Extremely rare ‘rainbow-like’ blanket octopus spotted in the wild on Great Barrier Reef

Marine biologist Jacinta Shackleton has filmed an encounter with an extremely rare ’rainbow-like’ blanket octopus on the Great Barrier Reef. Subscribe to Guardian Australia on YouTube and hit the bell to see new videos ► Her screams of delight can be heard even underwater and through her diving mask. Shackleton said that the blanket octopus generally spends its lifecycle in the open ocean so it’s even more unusual to see one on the reef. ’Seeing one in real life is indescribable, I was so captivated by its movements, it was as if it was dancing through the water with a flowing cape,’ said Shackleton. ‘The vibrant colours are just so incredible, you can’t take your eyes off it’ ‘Dancing through the water’: rare sighting of blanket octopus in Great Barrier Reef ► Support the Guardian ► We