Octobranchus floriceps sp. nov., the first record of the genus Octobranchus Marion & Bobretzky, 1875 in northern European waters, is described from between 145 and 370 m depth. Following re-examination of Octobranchus antarcticus Monro, 1936, and a proposal that the genus Novobranchus Berkeley & Berkeley, 1954, be considered a synonym of Octobranchus, the characteristics of all 6 members of the genus are discussed. O. floriceps appears most closely related to 0. antarcticus.