Giant Pacific Octopus
Enteroctopus dofleini
The giant Pacific octopus ranges throughout the Pacific - from the coasts of Southern California to Japan. In comparison to other species of octopus, they have a longer lifespan and are larger than most, reaching up to 16 ft (5 m) in length.
Credit: Robin Riggs
SPECIES IN DETAIL
Giant Pacific Octopus
Enteroctopus dofleini
CONSERVATION STATUS: Near threatened
CLIMATE CHANGE: Uncertain
At the Aquarium
The giant Pacific octopus is found in the Northern Pacific Gallery at the Aquarium.
Geographic Distribution
The giant Pacific octopus is primarily located in the temperate waters of the Pacific: from the coast of Southern California to Alaska. They can also be found in Japan and west to the Aleutian Islands.
Habitat
Giant Pacific octopuses range from the temperate waters of the Pacific: from the coasts of Southern California to Japan. They can also be found west towards the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The Giant Pacific Octopus can be commonly found in the intertidal zone which is about 750 m (2,460 ft) below sea level.
Physical Characteristics
Giant Pacific octopus typically have a reddish-brown color and have bulbous heads. They use their eight arms and thousands of suction cups to help them move and capture food.
Size
- 10-50 kilograms (22-110 pounds)
- 2.97-5 meters (9.75-16 feet)
Diet
The Giant Pacific octopus primarily hunts for food at night, and their diet includes shrimp, clams, lobsters, fish. They are considered to be a foraging predator.
Reproduction
The female Giant Pacific octopus lay around 74,000 eggs secured in a deep den or cave. After laying those eggs, the female spends seven months looking after the eggs. She will guard the eggs and use her arms and siphon to circulate water around the eggs. During this time, the female enters a period known as senescence - the end of her life. She does not eat, and her only focus is protecting and supporting the eggs. Soon after the eggs hatch, the octopus will die.
Behavior
Like other species of octopuses, they have special pigment cells called chromatophores in their skin that allow them to change colors and camouflage. With their pigment cells, they can mimic surrounding colors and textures. They tend to spend the majority of their lives alone.
Adaptation
The Giant Pacific octopus is an invertebrate (having no bones) and very flexible. They can fit into any space that is larger than its mouth (beak) and can squeeze their whole body into spaces that may be only a few inches in diameter!
Their arms are very strong and each suction cup has thousands of chemical receptors helping them not only grab their food, but taste as well!
They are well adapted for camouflage, being able to change their color and texture. Chromatophores are sacs of ink in their skin that are colored typically yellow, red and brown. Muscles control their size and shape. The octopus uses its eyes to judge the colors and texture it wants.
Longevity
The Giant Pacific octopus lives to be about four years old.
Conservation
There are no current or previously recorded conservation projects put in place for the Giant Pacific octopus.
Special Notes
The largest Giant Pacific Octopus on record is recorded to be 600 pounds (272 kilograms) and measured to be 30 feet (9 meters) across.
On average, the Giant Pacific Octopus has 2,140-2,240 suction cups on their arms.
SPECIES IN DETAIL | Print full entry
Giant Pacific Octopus
Enteroctopus dofleini
CONSERVATION STATUS: Near threatened
CLIMATE CHANGE: Uncertain
The giant Pacific octopus is found in the Northern Pacific Gallery at the Aquarium.
The giant Pacific octopus is primarily located in the temperate waters of the Pacific: from the coast of Southern California to Alaska. They can also be found in Japan and west to the Aleutian Islands.
Giant Pacific octopuses range from the temperate waters of the Pacific: from the coasts of Southern California to Japan. They can also be found west towards the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. The Giant Pacific Octopus can be commonly found in the intertidal zone which is about 750 m (2,460 ft) below sea level.
Giant Pacific octopus typically have a reddish-brown color and have bulbous heads. They use their eight arms and thousands of suction cups to help them move and capture food.
- 10-50 kilograms (22-110 pounds)
- 2.97-5 meters (9.75-16 feet)
The Giant Pacific octopus primarily hunts for food at night, and their diet includes shrimp, clams, lobsters, fish. They are considered to be a foraging predator.
The female Giant Pacific octopus lay around 74,000 eggs secured in a deep den or cave. After laying those eggs, the female spends seven months looking after the eggs. She will guard the eggs and use her arms and siphon to circulate water around the eggs. During this time, the female enters a period known as senescence - the end of her life. She does not eat, and her only focus is protecting and supporting the eggs. Soon after the eggs hatch, the octopus will die.
Like other species of octopuses, they have special pigment cells called chromatophores in their skin that allow them to change colors and camouflage. With their pigment cells, they can mimic surrounding colors and textures. They tend to spend the majority of their lives alone.
The Giant Pacific octopus is an invertebrate (having no bones) and very flexible. They can fit into any space that is larger than its mouth (beak) and can squeeze their whole body into spaces that may be only a few inches in diameter!
Their arms are very strong and each suction cup has thousands of chemical receptors helping them not only grab their food, but taste as well!
They are well adapted for camouflage, being able to change their color and texture. Chromatophores are sacs of ink in their skin that are colored typically yellow, red and brown. Muscles control their size and shape. The octopus uses its eyes to judge the colors and texture it wants.
The Giant Pacific octopus lives to be about four years old.
There are no current or previously recorded conservation projects put in place for the Giant Pacific octopus.
The largest Giant Pacific Octopus on record is recorded to be 600 pounds (272 kilograms) and measured to be 30 feet (9 meters) across.
On average, the Giant Pacific Octopus has 2,140-2,240 suction cups on their arms.