North Pacific Giant Octopus (Octopus dofleini)
Order: Octopoda, Family: Octopodidae
The giant octopus is the largest of all octopods, with a 31 feet arm span. Like all Octopus, they have 8 long arms, which suckers.
This octopus typically lives off the northern coast of California and north toward Alaska and Japan.
I. DESCRIPTION:
- The giant octopus is the largest of all octopods, with a 31 feet arm span. Like all Octopus, they have 8 long arms, which suckers.
II. GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE AND HABITAT:
- This octopus typically lives off the northern coast of California and north toward Alaska and Japan.
III. DIET:
- Adults feed on crustaceans, sculpins, mollusks and flatfish. They seize their prey with their long arms.
- Young octopus feed mainly on dead food.
IV. LIFE CYCLE/SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
- Reproduction takes place in the autumn and only occurs once. After the male transfers his spermatophore to the female, he will then dive to a deeper depth in the water and die.
- The female can lay between 18,000 and 100,000 eggs. The eggs are placed in nest. After the eggs are hatched the female will then die.
V. SPECIAL NOTES/ADAPTATIONS:
- Octopus are used for bait and for human consumption. Fisherman catch octopus using pots, similar to clay pots.
- Recent studies suggest the giant octopus is not endangered. This may be due to them reproducing late in their life.
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