In fact, recent studies have suggested that populations may be booming. The species is notable for its color, with blue rings across its body that are extremely bright. If bitten by a blue-ringed octopus paralysis lasts approximately 15 hours and may require intubation for survival. This Latin term is derived from a couple of Ancient Greek words — okto, which means “eight,” and pous, which means “foot.” Therefore, the term “octopus” means “eight feet,” which reflects the fact that these creatures have eight “feet,” which are more commonly referred to as arms. The species ranges along the Pacific’s “ring of fire”, stretching from the Gulf of California, into Alaska, and down past Japan and into China’s coastline. Octopuses have three hearts. Although it is very small, it lives roughly 13,100 feet below the surface of the water. The common octopus has a wide array of techniques it uses to avoid or thwart attackers. This Latin term is derived from a couple of Ancient Greek words — okto, which means “eight,” and pous, which means “foot.” Therefore, the term “octopus” means “eight feet,” which reflects the fact that these creatures have eight “feet,” which are more commonly referred to as arms. The true octopuses are members of the genus Octopus, a large group of widely distributed shallow-water cephalopods. Octopus has been a popular food item in East Asia, Spain, Greece and other countries for centuries, and recently, it has gained popularity in the U.S. and beyond. ... First & Last Name. Its scientific name is Octopus mercatoris. • Octopus mating is a one time thing for just about all of the species. There are around 300 recognized octopus species, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species. When discovered, an octopus will release a cloud of black ink to obscure its attacker’s view, giving it time to swim away. All octopuses are venomous, but only the small blue-ringed octopuses are known to be deadly to humans. The deepest living genus of octopus is known as the dumbo octopus. Because so many different kinds of squids exist, there are hundreds of different scientific names for them. The venom, a neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, causes respiratory arrest in those who are subjected to it. Human activity is also believed to play a role in population increases. Researchers believe that a few different factors are at work. Life around hydrothermal vents, or mini-volcanoes on the ocean floor, is actually independent of the sun, because the food … Other octopuses carry shells for protection. In its natural habitat, it prefers to stay in a cave during the day. Fast swimmers, they can jet forward by expelling water through their mantles. The record size of this octopus is about 30 feet, which is truly beyond imagination. There are separate sexes of octopuses. Classification: Phylum Mollusca ( Mollusks ), Class Cephalopoda (Squids and Octopuses), Order Octopoda (Octopus), Family Opisthoteuthidae (Umbrella Octopus). Dumbo octopus: Scientific Name: Grimpoteuthis: Description: The dumbo octopus, Grimpoteuthis swims slowly above the seafloor, descending to the bottom to feed. The term Sepiida derives from the Greek and Latin word sepia, which is a reference to the name of the dye produced from its ink. Two well-known examples are the lesser (Southern) blue-ringed octopuses, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Hoyle, 1883), and the greater blue-ringed octopuses, Hapalochlaena lunulata, (Quoy and Gaimard, 1832). They can be found from intertidal pools to areas of at least 30m in depth. An octopus is defined as any eight-armed cephalopod mollusk of the order Octopoda. Life around hydrothermal vents, or mini-volcanoes on the ocean floor, is actually independent of the sun, because the food … Only one species of octopus, the blue ringed octopus, is poisonous to humans. The true octopuses are members of the genus Octopus, a large group of widely distributed shallow-water cephalopods. The largest specimen ever weighed a reported 600 pounds and had an arm span of 30 feet! Copulation • Depending on the species of Octopus, mating can occur from a couple of months of age or when they are several years old. Classification: Phylum Mollusca ( Mollusks ), Class Cephalopoda (Squids and Octopuses), Order Octopoda (Octopus), Family Opisthoteuthidae (Umbrella Octopus). The Glass Octopus is one of the two species belonging to the genus Vitreledonella. The Dumbo octopus is known as the cutest octopus in the world because of its pudgy shape and fins that look like gigantic ears. As its name implies, it is most active during the daylight hours and rests in a shelter or “den” at night. They can also move backwards rapidly by ejecting jets of water from their siphons.Octopuses are also known for ejecting ink. In addition, blue-ringed octopus species are extremely venomous and their bite contains the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin. They do so at the same speed as the surrounding water, creating the illusion that they aren’t moving at all. The Southern Blue-lined Octopus is an inshore species found on intertidal rocky reefs and seagrass beds in shallow coastal waters. This octopus species is very rarely encountered and the few information scientists have managed to gather […] Considered a delicacy by many cultures, they are hunted regularly by humans. However, the term octopi is popularly used to describe more than one octopus. They also have beak-like jaws that can deliver a nasty bite, and venomous saliva, used mainly for subduing prey. Octopus don’t get bigger than the giant Pacific octopus! Octopuses are carnivores because they subsist solely off of other creatures. As active predators they need to explore, understand and remember their environment and the behaviour of other animals. This allows them to essentially move while in plain sight of predators. The veined octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus, was observed in 2009 excavating coconut half shells from the ocean floor and using them as part of its den. They inhabit many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. In this case, they inject prey with a paralyzing saliva.Most octopuses are solitary and spend roughly 40 percent of their time hiding in dens. As climate change occurs and, for example, ocean temperatures rise, they may be better able to cope than other creatures. They aren’t easy to track not only because they can’t be tagged but also because they are so solitary and reclusive in nature. Once they hatch, miniature versions of the parents – tiny octopods – emerge. The scientific name for the common octopus is Octopus vulgaris. They swim by moving water through their siphons; when doing so, their arms trail behind them. Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis is a species of octopus that lives near deep sea vents, which inspired its name "Vent octopus." The octopus holds the distinction of being the most intelligent of all invertebrate animals. Therefore, they are classified as carnivores. Octopuses’ thin skin also absorbs some oxygen from the water.These creatures move in a variety of ways. They are the first invertebrates to be seen using. This species was and still is eaten. Octopuses belong to the mollusk order. Octopus are in the mollusk phylum (snails, clams, chitons) and more specifically are members of the class Cephalopoda which includes squid, cuttlefish and nautilus. Unfortunately, scientists have no precise idea about how many octopuses exist in the world. Habitat. Image ID: 29376: Common Name: Hydrothermal vent mussel: Scientific Name: Bathymodiolus: Description: The vent mussel community: brittle stars, worms and limpets carpet the outside of vent mussel (Bathymodiolus) shells living near a hydrothermal vent. Studies have shown that octopuses learn easily, including learning by observation of another octopus. Small eyes atop long stalks … These creatures have existed for many millennia; the first known octopus fossil, Pohlsepia, is believed to have lived more than 296 million years ago. However, blue-ringed octopus are not aggressive and a 2008 study found just 3 known fatalities linked to the species. The dumbo octopus, for example, lives an average of 13,100 feet below the surface. If all else fails, an octopus can lose an arm to escape a predator’s grasp and re-grow it later with no permanent damage. These small brains are clusters of nerve cells that allow each arm to work independently of each other. Weight: Octopuses average 60 pounds, but they can weigh up to 150 – with an arm span of up to 20 feet across! On average, females lay around 100,000 eggs at one time, and it takes between four to eight weeks for them to hatch. There are at least 10 species of tiny blue-ringed octopuses, which, ironically for their size, are the most deadly of all cephalopods. "Baby Octopus" is the marketing name for several species of small octopuses that are actually fully grown adults. They use their beaks, which are very sharp, to tear apart prey. Predators such as sharks, eels, and dolphins swim by without even noticing it. They have a single systemic heart, which is responsible for circulating blood throughout their bodies. Popularity in flapjack octopuses soared after the character Pearl in Finding Nemo was modeled after the species. The Atlantic pygmy octopuses’ arms reach just under 4″, making it one of the smaller species of octopus. She also agitates them with water. 10. Its first—and most amazing—line of defense is its ability to hide in plain sight. Contrary to popular belief, the plural form of the word octopus is octopuses – not octopi. This octopus was formerly known as Octopus maorum. Scientific Name: Grimpoteuthis (Genus). Range: Tropical and temperate waters of the world’s oceans. With large eyes, tiny flapping fins and a blob-like body, the octopus is too adorable. Octopus have are incredible diversity, with some species living in the deepsea, some species reaching 30 feet, and others not even reaching an inch! This camouflaging is a common defense tactic that is used to help octopuses to evade predators. Although many believe the correct plural form of octopus is octopi, it’s actually octopuses. Scientific Name with Original Description Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797, Tabl.élém.hist.nat. The amazing mimic octopuses are capable of changing their body shape to mimic other animals. There are at least 3 other species of octopus found in Alaskan waters but the giant Pacific octopus is the most frequently encountered. However, some are found in intertidal zones, and others are found in abyssal depths. And their soft bodies, with no internal or external skeleton, can squeeze into impossibly small cracks and crevices where predators can’t follow. They’re especially abundant in the Gulf of Mexico and are known for their ability to rapidly change colors to mimic their surroundings. Just like larger octopus species, they have eight arms or tentacles covered with suction cups. In some species, the ink contains a venom that paralyses the sensory organs of the attacker. Its scientific name is Octopus mercatoris. Except it’s so much more than that. There are also small “brains” in each arm, bringing the total up to nine. Although octopuses live underwater and even have gills like fish, they are not fish at all. Octopus have no bones in their bodies and are amazing escape artists. They use their chromatophores (pigmented skin cells) to create different patterns for camouflage, stalking prey, courting mates and fighting rivals. They aren’t migratory, so they spend their whole lives in the same general area.Octopuses also have an excellent sense of touch. Even less-studied, even deeper-living, and even longer-named is Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis, the “specialized deep-sea vent octopus”, which is “found, as its name suggests, near deep-sea hydrothermal vents way down at 6000 ft. (2000 m)” (“Introduction: Meet the Octopus”, pg. Are octopuses carnivores, herbivores or omnivores? An octopus may slowly inch its way across open space, allowing them to mimic the appearance of a rock. Predatory, bottom-dwelling species of octopus primarily live off of crustaceans, polychaeta worms and clams and other mollusks. With the highest brain-to-body-mass ratios of all invertebrates – higher even than those of some vertebrates – the octopus is regarded as the smartest of all invertebrate animals. They feed themselves on crabs mainly as their primary food sources. Or, it reaches into holes to probe and catch a meal. In particular, human fishing removes large numbers of octopuses’ natural predators from the sea. However, the giant Pacific octopus is known to live for up to five years. This was the first documented use of tools by an invertebrate and is further evidence of how intelligent these creatures are. They also have two branchial hearts – one for each set of gills – that pump blood through the gills. The smallest octopus species weigh less than one gram and measure only about 1 inch in length.Octopuses engage in respiration by drawing water into their mantles through an aperture. Technically speaking, octopuses have nine brains. 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