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Octopus cyanea 138900133.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph; source identification retained. klukoff · CC BY 4.0

Field guide · species

Day Octopus

Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849

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The day octopus is a reef-dwelling cephalopod of the tropical Indo-Pacific. Unlike many octopuses that hunt mainly at night, it often searches for prey in daylight.

Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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Tree of lifeScientific lineage

Advanced classification

Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

cellular organisms cellular root
Eukaryota domain
Opisthokonta clade
Metazoa kingdom
Eumetazoa clade
Bilateria clade
Protostomia clade
Spiralia clade
Lophotrochozoa clade
Mollusca phylum
Cephalopoda class
Coleoidea subclass
Octopodiformes superorder
Octopoda order
Incirrata suborder
Octopodidae family
Octopus genus
Octopus cyanea species

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Physical traits

Eight flexible, sucker-bearing arms surround the mouth. Rapid changes in skin color and texture help the animal blend with complex reef surfaces.

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Habitat and range

Coral and rocky reefs offer crevices for shelter and varied surfaces over which to forage. A den can serve as a retreat between hunting excursions.

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Diet and nutrition

Crustaceans, molluscs and fish are among its prey. Flexible arms explore places that a rigid-bodied predator cannot easily reach.

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Behavior and activity

Individuals are generally solitary. Crawling and camouflage support hunting; an ink release can help an octopus escape a threat.

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Reproduction and life cycle

The female guards and tends her eggs. Brood care involves reduced or absent feeding, and reproduction is followed by the end of the adult female’s life.

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