North Pacific Bigeye Octopus
Octopus californicus
The North Pacific Bigeye Octopus like other octopuses are thought to be quite intelligent with a well developed brain and are considered masterful escape artists! Their skin can change color, pattern and texture. When threatened, they can release ink either as a decoy or smoke screen. They can also sever an arm and leave it wriggling as a decoy for its attackers.
The North Pacific Bigeye Octopus takes on an eerie tone during a color change. Credit: Hugh Ryono
SPECIES IN DETAIL
North Pacific Bigeye Octopus
Octopus californicus
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Vulnerable
Geographic Distribution
The live in the Northern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.
Habitat
These octopuses inhabit the Benthic Zone located at a depth between 100—900 meters (325—3000 feet).
Physical Characteristics
These octopuses are muscular, tan-orange in color with large eyes which look orange on video. Deep webs are between their arms that make the arms appear shorter. Raised patches of papillae (little protruding 3-D body parts) cover their body and arms and aid in camouflage.
Source: MBARI Deep-Sea Guide
Size
The bigeye octopus weighs about 850 grams ( 1.8 pounds). It’s body is 14 centimeters long (5.5 inches) and its arms measure 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length.
Diet
Bigeye octopuses are bottom feeders. They eat fish, snails, octopus, shrimp, crabs, mussels, and worms.
Reproduction
The male grasps the female and inserts the hectocotylus, a deeply-webbed arm which delivers sperm, into the female’s mantle cavity to fertilize eggs. The males die shortly after spawning and females die after their eggs hatch.
Behavior
This octopus spends much of its solitary life in dens, leaving at night to hunt for food.
Adaptation
A 3-layered skin with chromatophores (pigmented organs) and special reflectors allows color and texture changes to the skin that results in camouflage. These color-changing cells that are responsible for these remarkable transformations are just below the surface of the skin. The center of each chromatophore has an elastic sac of pigment which can be black, brown, orange, red or yellow.
They can eject ink to hide from, distract, or confuse predators. They can also lose an arm as a distraction and regenerate it later.
Longevity
This warm water species lives one to two years.
Special Notes
Their blood is blue because of copper-based pigment. Amazingly, they have three hearts, and their skin is able to make rapid pattern and texture changes. They have excellent vision and are very intelligent. They are capable of learning, using tools, and remembering locations. Many species of octopuses release ink and all move through jet propulsion.
SPECIES IN DETAIL | Print full entry
North Pacific Bigeye Octopus
Octopus californicus
CONSERVATION STATUS: Safe for Now
CLIMATE CHANGE: Vulnerable
The live in the Northern Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.
These octopuses inhabit the Benthic Zone located at a depth between 100—900 meters (325—3000 feet).
These octopuses are muscular, tan-orange in color with large eyes which look orange on video. Deep webs are between their arms that make the arms appear shorter. Raised patches of papillae (little protruding 3-D body parts) cover their body and arms and aid in camouflage.
Source: MBARI Deep-Sea Guide
The bigeye octopus weighs about 850 grams ( 1.8 pounds). It’s body is 14 centimeters long (5.5 inches) and its arms measure 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length.
Bigeye octopuses are bottom feeders. They eat fish, snails, octopus, shrimp, crabs, mussels, and worms.
The male grasps the female and inserts the hectocotylus, a deeply-webbed arm which delivers sperm, into the female’s mantle cavity to fertilize eggs. The males die shortly after spawning and females die after their eggs hatch.
This octopus spends much of its solitary life in dens, leaving at night to hunt for food.
A 3-layered skin with chromatophores (pigmented organs) and special reflectors allows color and texture changes to the skin that results in camouflage. These color-changing cells that are responsible for these remarkable transformations are just below the surface of the skin. The center of each chromatophore has an elastic sac of pigment which can be black, brown, orange, red or yellow.
They can eject ink to hide from, distract, or confuse predators. They can also lose an arm as a distraction and regenerate it later.
This warm water species lives one to two years.
Their blood is blue because of copper-based pigment. Amazingly, they have three hearts, and their skin is able to make rapid pattern and texture changes. They have excellent vision and are very intelligent. They are capable of learning, using tools, and remembering locations. Many species of octopuses release ink and all move through jet propulsion.