Giant octopus
genus of molluscs
The Giant octopus is Enteroctopus, and one of its species is the largest octopus. There are four species: the North Pacific Giant Octopus (E. dofleini), the Southern Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus magnificus), E. megalocyathus, and E. zealandicus.
| Giant octopuses | |
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| A North Pacific Giant Octopus at a depth of 65 metres | |
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| Genus: | Enteroctopus |
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| Were Giant Octopi live, E. dofleini in blue, E. megalocyathus in red, E. magnificus in yellow, and E. zealandicus in purple. | |
Overview
changeThe only member of this genus that deserves the common name "Giant octopus" is Enteroctopus dofleini. This holds the record of being the world's largest octopus: direct measurements were made of a live 71 kg (156.5 lb) individual.[1] This octopus had a total length near to 4 m (13 ft).
The remaining members of the genus are much smaller. E. megalocyathus has an average weight of 4 kg and a total length of 1 m.[2][3] E. magnificus has a total length of around 1.5 m.[4]
References
change- ↑ Cosgrove J.A. 1987. Aspects of the natural history of Octopus dofleini, the Giant Pacific Octopus. M.Sc. thesis, Department of Biology, University of Victoria (Canada).
- ↑ Perez M.C. et al. 2006. Feeding and growth in captivity of the octopus Enteroctopus megalocyathus Gould, 1852. Aquaculture Research 37: 550–555.
- ↑ Gleadall I.G. and M.A. Salcedo-Vargas 2004. Catalogue of the Cephalopoda specimens in the Zoology Department of Tokyo University Museum. Interdisciplinary Information Sciences 10: 113–142.
- ↑ Norman M. 2003. Cephalopods: a world guide. ConchBooks: Heckenhaim, Germany. pp. 213–216