Species Name: Enteroctopus dofleini
As implied by its name, this Pacific native is the largest species of octopus in the world. It is a highly-intelligent invertebrate with impressive problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to change the color of its skin to camouflage itself against its surroundings.
Between 3-5 years.
Shellfish and mollusks like crabs, lobsters, clams, and squid, as well as fish.
Reefs and other coastal habitats with nooks and crannies to hide in.
The Pacific Ocean along the coasts of northeastern Asia and western North America.
Length: up to 2 feet across the body, 7-14 feet from tentacle end to end.
Weight: 50-100 pounds.
The giant Pacific octopus is the largest of any octopus, with a reddish body that can reach up to 14 feet across, including the arms. Like other octopuses, this species has eight arms, each with hundreds of suction cups to help them grasp their way around their environment. These "suckers" can also help the octopus taste and smell its surroundings. Each arm actually has its own small brain to help it move, and with one central brain, this adds up to nine brains across the entire body!
Though it is a mollusk like clams and squid, the only hard part of this octopus is its strong keratin beak, used to crush its prey for consumption. It has no bones, and can actually squeeze its whole body into small openings just larger than its beak. Thanks to special cells in its body known as chromatophores, it can change the color of its skin to camouflage itself to its surroundings.
Diet
Giant Pacific octopuses primarily prey on shellfish and mollusks such as crabs, clams, lobsters, and squid, as well as other fish. They can also eat echinoderms like sea stars. It is an ambush predator that sneaks up on its prey with its ability to camouflage itself and hide in tight spots. It can also propel itself by filling its body with water, then forcing it out through a small opening, helping it catch up to prey before capturing it in its arms and beak.
Habitat
This species is found from the coasts of Korea and Japan all the way to western Canada, the United States and Mexico. It prefers temperatures of no more than 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reproductive Behavior
Giant Pacific octopuses live almost their entire lives in solitude, only seeking a mate at the end of its life. After mating in autumn, males will migrate into deeper waters to die, while impregnated females move to shallow waters where they can lay between 18,000 and 100,000 eggs, though the average is 50,000. After laying her eggs in a rocky or sandy area, the female guards them from predators for six months, not even taking a break to eat. Once the eggs hatch, their mother dies.
Relationship With Humans
Humans should keep their distance from this species, as it is venomous and may bite when threatened. Bites are not usually fatal if given proper medical attention, though they are harmful to the body. Giant Pacific octopi are commercially fished in both Japan and northwestern North America for both human consumption and as fishing bait.
Celebrations
Thanks to their reproductive capacity and lower popularity as seafood, giant Pacific octopi are categorized as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Concerns
Though not threatened, this species is sensitive to pollutants and ocean acidification. Climate change may impact their population due to warming oceans affecting octopus egg development, as well as reduced oxygen in areas they normally inhabit.
Dan
Our octopus, Dan, is the star resident of the Octopus Aquarium at the center of our Undersea Super Powers Gallery at the South Building!
Least Concern (LC)
A taxon is Least Concern (LC) when the global population has been evaluated against the Red List criteria and does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened.
IUCN Red List