Both were found by William Evans Hoyle within one year of each other, and no other animals of the species have been identified since 1886.

[1][3] This octopus' mantle reaches 53 millimeters long, and it weighs at least 1,345 grams when wet.

Like other cirrates, G. meangensis has a web covering its arms to some degree; the web of G. meangensis covers the majority of its arms.

[3] The fins G. meangensis uses to swim almost equal its body length; its eyes are large.

The shell within its body has a shape which differentiates it from other members of the genus Grimpoteuthis.