Giant Pacific octopus
Enteroctopus dofleini
- Scientific name
- Enteroctopus dofleini
- Group
- Cephalopods
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Cold / polar waters
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The giant Pacific octopus is the largest known octopus species, with an arm span reaching up to 6 meters; it lives only 3 to 5 years and can taste whatever it touches through chemical receptors on every one of its suckers.
What defines this group — Cephalopods
Octopuses, cuttlefish, squid and nautiluses: molluscs that became the most intelligent invertebrates.
- Eight arms — ten in cuttlefish and squid — set around a horny beak.
- Skin cells called chromatophores change colour and texture in a fraction of a second.
- Three hearts, and blue blood that carries oxygen with copper rather than iron.