Southern Giant Octopus
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| Southern Giant Octopus | ||||||||||||||
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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Enteroctopus magnificus (Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992) |
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 Distribution of E. magnificus
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The Southern Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus magnificus) is a large octopus in the genus Enteroctopus. It is native to the waters off Namibia and South Africa.
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[edit] Description
E. magnificus bears the distinctive characteristics of the genus Enteroctopus, including longitudinal folds on the body and large, paddle-like papillae. E. magnificus is a large octopus, reaching total lengths of up to 1.8 m[1] and a mass of 11.4 kg.[2]
[edit] Range and habitat
E. magnificus occurs from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is found primarily on sand and mud flats from shallow subtidal areas to about 1000 m depth.[1]
[edit] Predators
E. magnificus is predated on by the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) and the Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus).[2]
[edit] Diet
Like many octopuses, E. magnificus is a generalist predator. The chief food source for this octopus is the deep-sea portunid crab Bathynectes piperitus. Other major prey items include the Cape hagfish (Myxine capensis), the crab species Pontophilus gracilis, and hermit crabs in the Parapagurus genus.[2]
[edit] Fisheries
E. magnificus is only collected by trawl and in lobster pots. Harvest of this octopus is small, mainly as a finfish trawl fisheries by-catch.[1]
