Living Beings
    Source-identified Octopus vulgaris; Documentary organism photograph. Framed for display
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    Pulpo común (Octopus vulgaris), Parque natural de la Arrábida, Portugal, 2020-07-31, DD 111.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph. Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Common Octopus

    Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797

    What does the authority mean?

    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

    Check the recorded name and authority ↗
    AnimaliaCephalopodaOctopodaOctopodidae

    Eight flexible arms, a soft body and rapidly changing skin make the common octopus an effective coastal predator. The name once covered a broader species complex; this profile distinguishes the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean species concept.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

    Compare species
    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumMollusca
    5. ClassCephalopoda
    6. OrderOctopoda
    7. FamilyOctopodidae
    8. GenusOctopus
    9. SpeciesOctopus vulgaris
    Advanced classification

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

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Protostomia clade
    8. Spiralia clade
    9. Lophotrochozoa clade
    10. Mollusca phylum
    11. Cephalopoda class
    12. Coleoidea subclass
    13. Octopodiformes superorder
    14. Octopoda order
    15. Incirrata suborder
    16. Octopodidae family
    17. Octopus genus
    18. Octopus vulgaris species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    Suckers line the arms, which surround the mouth. Skin color and texture can change, so a single color pattern is not a secure species diagnosis.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Rocky shores, reefs and other coastal seabeds provide crevices and shelters. Soft-bottom areas can also be used.

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    Diet and nutrition

    Molluscs, crustaceans and other animal prey are captured with the arms and processed with the beak.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Individuals shelter in dens and explore using touch, vision and chemical cues. Learning changes responses to food and shelter.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Females tend attached egg strings in protected shelters. Small hatchlings enter a planktonic phase before settling into benthic life.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The restricted species concept is associated with the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Older global records may represent related species and need reassessment.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Ecological role

    Octopuses consume benthic animals and are themselves prey for larger marine predators.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Camouflage, flexible arms and jet-assisted escape provide several ways to handle threats.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Conservation

    Fishing pressure must be evaluated against local populations and the correct species identity; records from the entire historical complex cannot simply be pooled.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗ · Scientific source 3 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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