
How many species of Octopus live in the ocean?
In this article, we’ll tell you about some of the species of octopus that live in the depths of the oceans. How many species of octopus exist? In total there are more than 300 species of octopus and all of them live in salty waters, both cold and hot.
How many octopuses do you need to meet?
Here are eight octopuses that YOU need to meet. Small, but deadly—the blue-ringed octopus is recognized as one of the most dangerous animals in the ocean. Its venom is 1,000 times more powerful than cyanide, and this tiny octopus packs enough venom to kill 26 humans within minutes.
What is another name for octopus?
For other uses, see Octopus (disambiguation). The octopus (plural octopuses) is a soft-bodied, eight- limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda ( / ɒkˈtɒpədə /, ok-TO-pə-də ). Around 300 species are recognised, and the order is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids.
How many eyes does an octopus have?
Like other cephalopods, the octopus is bilaterally symmetric with two eyes and a beak, with its mouth at the center point of the eight limbs (traditionally called "arms", sometimes mistakenly called "tentacles").

How many different octopuses are there?
Blue‑ringed octopusGiant Pacific octopusCommon octopusDumbo OctopusGiant octopusesSmoothskin octopusOctopus/Lower classifications
Do all octopus have 9 brains?
In addition to a central brain located between the eyes, octopuses have separate “mini-brains” at the base of each of their eight tentacles. Unlike most creatures, octopuses have nine brains, and they put them to incredibly adept use.
What is the rarest type of octopus?
Dumbo octopuses are naturally rare, and the deep sea is enormous, so these species have specialized behaviors to increase the likelihood that they can successfully reproduce anytime that they find a mate.
Do purple octopuses exist?
Deep in the Pacific Ocean, pale purple octopuses with giant cartoon eyes roam the seafloor. Some are covered with pronounced bumps, and others look like they have nearly smooth skin, a puzzle that has long confused scientists.
Which animal does not have a heart?
Jellyfish, starfish, and even corals manage very well without hearts. Starfish do not even have blood, so this explains why no heart is required. Instead, they use small hair-like structures called cilia to push seawater through their bodies and they extract oxygen from the water.
Do octopuses feel pain?
Kristin Andrews and Frans de Waal posit in a new report published in the journal Science that many animals, including cephalopods such as octopuses, feel pain . But they don't just react reflexively, like a child pulling away their hand from a hot stove. That type of reaction is known as nociception.
What is the friendliest octopus?
The Bimac Octopus They have a reputation as being one of the most tolerant, friendliest and intelligent species, which has led to an increase of them being kept as pets. The Bimac Octopus can be found residing in depths of up to 20 meters in Baja, California.
What is the most beautiful octopus?
One of the most stunning octopus species is the blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena), known for its namesake azure spots.
Is a glass octopus real?
The glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) is a very rarely seen cephalopod found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world. The species gets its name from its nearly-transparent body—you can see straight through to the optic nerve, eyes and digestive tract.
What kind of octopus is Ursula?
cecaeliaUrsula is a morbidly obese octopod, classified as a cecaelia (half human, half octopus). She has light lavender skin, short white hair, and her body, from the waist down, is black with six tentacles dotted by violet suckers.
How many brains does an octopus have?
nine brainsThanks to their nine brains, it seems that octopuses have the benefit of both localised and centralised control over their actions.
What eats octopus in the ocean?
Moray eels, fish, seals, sperm whales, sea otters, and many birds prey on octopuses.
What animal has 9 hearts?
But their circulatory system is just as unusual. The octopus has multiple hearts, and that fact can reveal secrets about its evolutionary history while also informing our understanding of how they manipulate their environments.
What happens if you get bitten by a blue-ringed octopus?
Signs and symptoms of blue-ringed octopus bite Their bite is usually painless, but the person bitten will feel numb around the mouth, tongue, face and neck and will feel tight in the chest and may have difficulty breathing. Respiratory failure occurs eventually which leads to death if the person is not resuscitated.
How many brains does a dolphin have?
Dolphin's do not have two brains, but because they can sleep half of their brain it almost feels that way doesn't it? When humans and other mammals sleep, both hemispheres of the brain sleep.
Do all octopuses have 3 hearts?
Octopuses have three hearts, which is partly a consequence of having blue blood. Their two peripheral hearts pump blood through the gills, where it picks up oxygen.
How big is an Atlantic pygmy octopus?
The Atlantic Pygmy Octopus is very small, only about 5 ½ inches in length overall. Over 3 inches of that is the arms so the mantle part of the body isn’t very much to work with at all. YouTube. DiveandSeek. 163 subscribers.
What makes the Seven Arm Octopus stand out from the other 300 species?
What makes the Seven-Arm Octopus stand out from the other 300 species is that it has one less arm than they all do. Well, that is how it appears anyway.
How many people can a blue ringed octopus kill?
Blue Ringed Octopus – Read The Article. Octopus Defenses. The blue-ringed octopus can kill twenty-six people in a matter of minutes it has a trademark feature about it. They have rings of blue that are around their bodies.
What is the size of an East Pacific Red Octopus?
East Pacific Red Octopus – Read The Article. There is a good chance you have heard of the East Pacific Red Octopus. They are small in size and have a body that is about three times smaller than the length of their eight arms.
What color is the Caribbean Reef Octopus?
The Caribbean Reef Octopus is one that has a fascinating look to it. The combination of blue and green color is something that gets people’s attention. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device. Videos you watch may be added to the TV's watch history and influence TV recommendations.
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When was the octopus bimaculatus Verrill?
Octopus bimaculatus Verrill, 1883– California two-spot octopus or Verrill’s two-spot octopus.
How many species of octopus are there?
There are currently more than 300 species of octopus recorded, and more get discovered every decade. To be knowledgeable about the anatomy, classification, and species within the octopus family, you don’t have to have a degree in marine biology.
What are the different types of octopus?
22 Different Types of The Most Incredible Octopus Species. 1. Mosaic Octopus ( Octopus abaculus) There is very little known about the Mosaic Octopus. These creatures are part of the Incirrina sub-order and have the form of a typical octopus.
How do octopuses get their name?
The Capricorn Octopus gets its name from the shape its arms tend to form around its body. They are smaller octopuses with a mantle that is only 3.1 inches (7.9 cm) long. They are classed as “least concern” on the IUCN list.
How big is a blue ringed octopus?
This octopus is much smaller than its “greater” cousin. These octopuses are small, ranging in size from 0.15 (0.38 cm) to 7.9 (20.1 cm) inches. They are dark brown to yellow, sometimes looking tan.
Where do blanket octopus get their name?
The Blanket Octopus gets its name from the transparent webbing that connects to their dorsolateral and dorsal arms on the females.
What is the octopus's tier?
They do share this tier with cuttlefish and squid. The primary order of the octopus classification system is Octopoda, meaning “eight feet.”. This classification was given to them in 1818, and since then, we have learned that these appendages are not feet or legs but actually function as arms.
What is the world of octopus?
They are one of the most intelligent sea creatures, filled with personality and interesting ways to survive in the dangerous depths of the ocean. Even the most interested octopus researcher won’t be familiar with all of the octopus species living in our oceans.
Where do octopus live?
Scientists have recognized more than 300 Octopus species. They live in the oceans around the world. They are only found in saltwater and they can live in regions.
How long do octopuses live?
Some have a cycle of life, reproduction, and death in less than a year. On average they won’t live for more than five years. Experts believe their bodies are pre dispositioned to shut down after they mate. That urge to mate is one that is instinct-driven and they can’t avoid.
What do octopus eat?
All Octopus species consume crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. The majority of their food sources have shells on them. They will use their beaks to break the shells and consume the insides of them. When they can’t do that because of a very hard shell they will release a toxin from glands in their body. This toxin will dissolve the shell quickly and they can get to the source of the food.
How many eggs can an octopus lay?
The number of eggs that can be deposited can be up to 200,000. It really depends on the size of the Octopus and the species. The reason why they have so many eggs is that very few of them will be able to survive to maturity themselves. Octopus are very interesting animals and they give us plenty to think about.
How many legs does a squid have?
The structure of their bodies with very large heads and eight legs going in all directions can be unnerving to some. You have to agree that the design of their anatomy is unlike any other creature in the world. They are extremely flexible too which is really neat because they can make the shape of their body to fit anything, even inside of a bottle lying on the ocean floor.
Do octopuses hunt at night?
All species of octopuses hunt at night and they have amazing vision. During the day they spend their time relaxing and hiding from predators. They have the ability to change their pigment so they can blend into their surroundings. That’s right, they can hide in plain sight at times because they look just like what they are against.
How many species are there in the Dumbo Octopus?
The Dumbo Octopus gives its name to a collective of 15 different species.
What does an octopus look like?
Octopuses can look spiky or smooth, they can grow horns on their heads and can match texture, color, pattern and skin.
Why do octopuses have blue rings?
When provoked, these octopuses will flash their 40 to 60 glowing blue rings to warn off predators. The Blue-Ringed Octopus usually hunts during the day. When prey is located, they leap into action using tentacles to pull their catch towards their mouth, they then use their beak to deliver a paralyzing venom.
What do dumbo octopus eat?
They are foraging predators with a diet that consist mostly of bristle worms, copepods, isopods and amphipods.
How big is an Atlantic pygmy octopus?
Like its name suggest, the Atlantic Pygmy Octopus is a small octopus species, very small in fact, fully grown this octopus only reaches approximately 6 inches (15 cm) in total and at least 3 inches (8 cm) of that is its arms.
How many blue rings does an octopus have?
This psychedelic looking octopus has upwards of 60 blue rings, these can vary in size of up to 8 millimeters in diameter which cover its entire body and arms.
When was the flapjack octopus discovered?
First discovered in 1949, the Flapjack Octopus hasn’t been studied in great detail, however, robotic submersibles have frequently observed this cute little octopus resting on the seabed.
What is the common octopus?
Of all the different kinds of octopus, The Common is one that you are likely to have seen, even if it’s just been on a documentary on TV. They have been more extensively studied than others. The problem is there are huge differences between individual Common Octopi.
How to tell if an octopus is a common octopus?
Often, they are mistaken for the Common Octopus. The easiest way to tell them apart, though, is the eyes. Caribbean Reef octopus have dark circles around their eyes. They are not especially fast swimmers but are able to lie completely flat and disappear into the scenery.
Why is the octopus a mimic?
It is known as a mimic thanks to its ability to copy other sea creatures. They do this as a protective measure against predators.
Why do octopus have no ink sacks?
Another curiosity is their lack of an ink sack, likely because they don’t have many natural predators in the deepest parts of the ocean. Now that you have learned a little more about these amazing creatures, carry on these celebrations with one of Azula’s 11 Brilliant Ways To Celebrate World Octopus Day! Kirsty Wood.
How many humans can a 7 arm octopus kill?
This tiny creature can be aggressive and has enough toxin, known as Tetrodotoxin, to kill approximately 26 adult human beings in minutes. 2. Seven-Arm. To look at, it appears as if the Seven-Arm Octopus, otherwise known as haliphron atlanticus, has one less tentacle than others.
How big is a Pacific red octopus?
They are a small octopus with a weight of, when they are fully mature, 5-ounces, and a length of 20-inches. Their length is disproportionate with their tentacles stretching to lengths 3 times longer than their bodies.
How big is a blue ringed octopus?
This colorful species is named as such because of the distinctive blue-colored rings around its body, it measures between 5 to 8-inches and as beautiful as it is, it is not the friendliest of creatures.
What are the two types of octopus?
Each of the different types of octopus can be placed into two categories, finless, shallow water, and finned, deep water . Finless, Shallow-Water Octopus: One of the main types of octopus is the finless, shallow-water octopus. These kinds of octopuses live around coral reefs and, of course, where the waters are shallow.
Where do octopuses live?
These kinds of octopuses live around coral reefs and, of course, where the waters are shallow. These species of octopus, the finned, deep-water octopus, live in deeper waters, sometimes miles under the ocean.
Why is the Dumbo Octopus called the Dumbo Octopus?
Dumbo Octopus. Dumbo Octopus. The dumbo octopus gets its name due to its resemblance to the Disney character from the film Dumbo. Their fins resemble large ears and extend from the mantle of the octopus above each eye.
How did the dumbo octopus get its name?
The dumbo octopus gets its name due to its resemblance to the Disney character from the film Dumbo. Their fins resemble large ears and extend from the mantle of the octopus above each eye.
What is the name of the octopus that comes out of a hole in the ocean floor?
Common Octopus. Common Octopus comes out of a hole on the ocean floor. Octopus Vulgaris or the common octopus is the most studied octopus species in existence. Its appearance is unique because of its huge bulbous head, large eyes, and 8 peculiar tentacles.
How do octopus move?
Octopuses move in three ways: by walking across the ocean floor, by swimming using its tentacles, and by squirting water from a cavity to propel itself forward. Octopuses have three hearts. One heart pumps blood throughout the entire body of the octopus while the other two pump blood to the gills.
How many people can a blue ringed octopus kill?
That means that, though the blue-ringed octopus is only the size of a golf ball, it still carries enough poison to kill 26 humans in minutes. Scientific name: Hapalochlaena.
How big is an octopus?
Its scientific name is Octopus Vulgaris and is one of the largest species. They can measure approximately 3 feet and weigh 20 pounds. They have big heads and huge eyes, which looks odd compared to the rest of their body, and they can change color to camouflage in their environment.
How long are octopus tentacles?
California’s two-spot octopus is about 16 inches long, and their tentacles are approximately 10 inches long. It’s said to be one of the more ‘friendly’ species because they don’t usually attack and tolerate their ‘relatives’ without problems, except when they compete for food, which is usually crustaceans, mollusks, and small fish.
Why are blue ringed octopus dangerous?
They’ll fight with other octopus for food, shelter, or territory. They’re even dangerous to humans, because their sting can kill us.
What is the blue ringed octopus?
As its name suggests, the blue-ringed octopus has a clear body with blue circular ‘spots’ that can even change their color to camouflage with the environment.
Where do squid live?
From its name we already know two characteristics of this species; they have two spots on their body and they live in Californian waters, although it can also be found in Japan, Mexico, and Africa. The marks are blue and are around the eyes, while the rest are usually grayish.
How long do squid stay with their offspring?
They’ll even stay with their offspring for 40 days and eat part of their tentacle to regain energy.
Where do octopuses live?
They live among reefs and grass beds throughout the tropical waters of western Atlantic, Bahamas, Caribbean and northern South America. They are also a beautiful blue-green color and have a very short lifespan, generally only a year to a year and a half. The Caribbean reef octopus is a nighttime hunter—using the cover of dark to search for prey among reefs and sea grass beds. They also have built-in reflective skin—and are easy to spot at night with dive lights.
What is the largest octopus?
I’m sure it’s no surprise that the giant Pacific octopus is largest octopus species. It is also the longest living. It is probably one of the most easily recognizable octopuses because of its bright reddish-pink color. The giant Pacific octopus enjoys a life of solitude and enjoys spending time alone in their den—only venturing out to hunt for food.
How big is a blanket octopus?
The blanket octopus spends its entire life in the open ocean. For many species of animal, males are bigger than females. But the opposite is true for the blanket octopus. The females are 10,000 times bigger than males. You read that correctly—10,000 times bigger!
What do octopus do with shells?
This octopus has to be my favorite of the ones on this list—they find shells in the ocean and hide in them or carry them around. The coconut octopus has the foresight to carry around coconut shells to use as protective shelters when it is out exploring—to ensure it has someplace to hide should a predator show up. They are so smart!
How many people can a blue ringed octopus kill?
Its venom is 1,000 times more powerful than cyanide, and this tiny octopus packs enough venom to kill 26 humans within minutes. It’s best to keep your distance if you encounter a blue-ringed octopus in the ocean.
What is a mimic octopus?
Mimic octopus. The mimic octopus is the ultimate master of disguise. This sneaky octopus has taken camouflage to a whole new level. In addition to changing its color and texture, the mimic octopus will change the way it moves its arms to impersonate a variety of other marine species.
How to identify California two spot octopus?
California two-spot octopus. © Jonas Gozjak. You can easily identify this colorful octopus by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. This octopus prefers living in shallow ocean waters—and relies on being able to reach the sandy bottoms of the water in order to hide in rocks and crevices found there.
