| Southern Giant Octopus | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Octopodidae |
| Genus: | Enteroctopus |
| Species: | E. magnificus |
| Binomial name | |
| Enteroctopus magnificus (Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992) |
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| Distribution of E. magnificus | |
| Synonyms | |
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Enteroctopus magnificus, also known as the Southern Giant Octopus, is a large octopus in the genus Enteroctopus. It is native to the waters off Namibia and South Africa.
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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]
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]
E. magnificus is predated on by the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) and the Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus).[2]
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]
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]