Common Octopus

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Common Octopus

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Octopus
Subgenus: Octopus
Species: O. vulgaris
Binomial name
Octopus vulgaris
Cuvier, 1797
Synonyms
  • Octopus vulgaris
    Lamarck, 1798
  • Octopus rugosus
    Bosc, 1792

The Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is the most studied of all octopus species. Its natural range extends from the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of England to at least Senegal in Africa. It also occurs off the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands.[1]

O. vulgaris from the Mediterranean Sea.
O. vulgaris from the Mediterranean Sea.

O. vulgaris grows to 25 cm in mantle length with arms up to 1 m long.[1]

O. vulgaris is caught by bottom trawls on a huge scale off the northwestern coast of Africa. More than 20,000 tonnes are harvested annually.[1]

Training experiments have shown that the Common Octopus can distinguish the brightness, size, shape, and horizontal or vertical orientation of objects.

They are intelligent enough to learn how to unscrew a jar and are known to raid lobster traps.[1] [2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Norman, M.D. 2000. Cephalopods: A World Guide. ConchBooks.

[edit] External links

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