| California Two-spot Octopus | |
|---|---|
| Immature Octopus bimaculoides | |
| Octopus bimaculoides at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Octopodidae |
| Genus: | Octopus |
| Subgenus: | Octopus |
| Species: | O. bimaculoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Octopus bimaculoides Pickford & McConnaughey, 1949 |
|
The California Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculoides), also known as the "Bimac Octopus", is an octopus species that lives off the coast of California. One can identify the species by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. Due to their friendly temperament and relative hardiness, they are considered by most experts to make the best pet octopus. Bimacs usually live to be about two years old. They are closely related to Verrill's Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus).
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Eastern Pacific: mid California coast into Mexico. Indo-Pacific: East Africa to American Samoa, north to Japan, south to the Great Barrier Reef.
This species of octopus is found in the intertidal and benthic, from the low tide zone to subtidal depths of about 20 meters (65 ft). It prefers sandy substrate and caves of rock or debris to hide in. It tolerates a wide temperature range (at least 60-80F), though it prefers 65-72 F.
Reaches a mantle size of 7 inches (17.5 cm) and arms to 23 inches (58 cm). Not usually heavily textured and has several common colors, such as grey with yellow splotches. Uses highly developed crypsis (camouflage or color changing to match their environment). Octopuses achieve color change in part by chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores; all structures of the skin in increasing depth. Chromatophores are generally known as elastic pigmentsacs with muscle fibers attached letting them expand and contract. The leucophores are important because they allow for the reflection of white light and consequently allow the skin to reflect wavelengths of light which are prevalent in their habitat and produce disruptive patterns. The other aspect to cephalopod camouflage is the brain which contains nerves coated in chromatophore fibers, controlling coloration patterning.
It gets its name from the false eye spots under each real eye known as ocellus. In O.bimaculoides the ocellus is an iridescent blue chain link circle set in a circle of black.
1 to 2 years. The end is signaled by egg laying in the female or senility in the male.
Clams, mussels, small crabs, crayfish, snails. Hatchlings feed on amphipods or mysid shrimp.[1]