Octopus
There are over 300 different species of Octopus found in every ocean of the world.
Octopuses can change colour and texture in milliseconds to camouflage with their surroundings, or to communicate and express themselves. Octopuses possess the largest brain-to-body mass ratio of any invertebrate, and they are known for their intelligence and cognitive ability to use tools and solve problems.
Octopus
Octopi
Octopoda (order)
Several families. Most well-known species are in Octopodidae.
Octopus come in many shapes, sizes and colours. In common for all species is that they have soft, rounded bodies with eight tentacle arms.
Ranges from about 1.5 cm (Star-sucker Pygmy Octopus) to over 5 m across the arms (Giant Pacific Octopus). Most species have an arm span under 1 m.
Eight tentacle arms with suckers.
Majority of octopus species possess a specialized ink sac that can squirt ink when they feel threatened.
Rocky reefs, coral reefs, crevices, seagrass, kelp, and sand and mud bottoms. Found from rock pools to the deep sea.
Carnivores. They eat crabs, lobsters, shellfish, fish and other octopuses. Many hunt at night.
Most species breed only once and then die. The female lays eggs in a den and guards them without feeding until they hatch.
Different types of Octopus inhabit every single sea and ocean in the world.
They are faced with the threats of overfishing and unregulated fishing, climate change, pollution and plastic congestion.
The blue-ringed octopus is a small, highly venomous octopus. Photo: Sascha Janson, Shutterstock
Frequently asked questions about the Octopus
What does the Octopus eat?
Carnivores. They eat crabs, lobsters, shellfish, fish and other octopuses. Many hunt at night.
Where can I see the Octopus in Tasmania?
Different types of Octopus inhabit every single sea and ocean in the world.
Is the Octopus endangered?
What does the Octopus look like?
Eight tentacle arms with suckers.
Where does the Octopus live?
Rocky reefs, coral reefs, crevices, seagrass, kelp, and sand and mud bottoms. Found from rock pools to the deep sea.
What threats does the Octopus face?
They are faced with the threats of overfishing and unregulated fishing, climate change, pollution and plastic congestion. The blue-ringed octopus is a small, highly venomous octopus. Photo: Sascha Janson, Shutterstock
How does the Octopus breed and reproduce?
Most species breed only once and then die. The female lays eggs in a den and guards them without feeding until they hatch.
You might like...
Marine wonders of Tasman Peninsula
Big-bellied Seahorse
The big-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) is one of three seahorse species found in Tasmanian waters. Reaching up to 35 cm in height, they are one of the worlds largest seahorses, with a big round belly as their distinctive feature.
Australian Fur Seal
There are nine species of fur seals in the world, and the Australian fur seal is the largest of them. Photo: Warwick Berry
Polar Bear
Polar bears are the world’s largest land carnivores and apex predators, inhabiting the Arctic sea ice. Photo: Hans-Jurgen Mager
Newsletter
Sign up to keep in touch with articles, updates, events or news from Kuno, your platform for nature