| Megaleledone setebos | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Suborder: | Incirrina |
| Family: | Octopodidae |
| Subfamily: | Megaleledoninae Taki, 1961 |
| Genus: | Megaleledone Taki, 1961 |
| Species: | M. setebos |
| Binomial name | |
| Megaleledone setebos (Robson, 1932) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Megaleledone setebos, the Giant Antarctic Octopus, is a very large octopus with a circum-Antarctic distribution. It grows to at least 28 cm in mantle length and 90 cm in total length.[1] M. setebos feeds by drilling small holes in large, shelled mollusks, and then injecting its poisonous saliva. The venom even works at sub-freezing temperatures.[2]
This species was transferred to the genus Megaleledone and synonymised with Megaleledone senoi in a 2003 paper.[1]