Giant Pacific Octopus

(Enteroctopus dofleini)

Overview

Octopuses (yes, that is the correct plural of octopus) are cephalopods—a class of marine mollusk that also includes squid and cuttlefish. Cephalopod is derived from two Greek words, which, when combined, mean "head-foot." Of the 800 identified living species of cephalopods, 300 are octopuses!

Giant Pacific octopuses have large heads and eight arms and are usually reddish-brown. They also have three hearts and a complex neural system that includes one central cerebral ganglion and eight smaller ganglia at the base of their arms. Think of these smaller systems as external hard drives that report data back to a computer's central processing unit.

Quick Facts

Learn more about the giant Pacific octopus! Did you know that this master of camouflage can quickly change the color and texture of its skin to hide from predators?

The giant Pacific octopus can be found in southern California, northward along the coast of North America, across the Aleutian Islands and southward to Japan.

Newly hatched octopuses feed on plankton (small, microscopic organisms); adults feed on crabs, shrimp, clams, snails, fishes and even other octopuses, using their beaks to break open hard-shelled prey.

The giant Pacific octopus is the largest and longest-living species of octopus, growing to an average weight of 45 to 65 pounds and living 3 to 5 years. Some individuals found in the mid-20th century had reached weights of more than 110 pounds.

Due to the giant Pacific octopus's short lifespan and reclusive habits, it's difficult to assess their total population, but the species is common throughout its range.

While many young, larval octopuses are lost to predators, only large fish, marine mammals and humans are a threat to adults.

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