Day octopus (Octopus cyanea)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Octopus cyanea
- Common name
- Day octopus
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Genus
- Octopus
- Size
- 40–100 cm
- Depth
- 1–150 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, diurnal, camouflage
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Octopus cyanea reaches 1 m arms extended. Notable: one of the very few octopuses active during the day (unlike most nocturnal octopuses). Exceptional mastery of color and texture adaptation: shifts in seconds from coral green-brown to sandy white, to stress red. Actively hunts crabs and fish on Indo-Pacific reefs. From 1 to 150 m. Iconic dive encounter in Maldives, Mozambique, Australia. Favorite subject of David Attenborough.
Photo of Day octopus
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Day octopus?
- Day octopus (Octopus cyanea) reaches 40–100 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Day octopus?
- Day octopus is found between 1–150 m deep.
- Is the Day octopus dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Day octopus?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Day octopus?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Octopus
- Octopus vulgaris - Common octopus
- Octopus briareus - Caribbean reef octopus
- Octopus macropus - White-spotted octopus
- Octopus mototi - Mototi octopus
- Octopus hubbsorum - Hubbs' octopus
- Octopus bimaculatus - Two-spot octopus
Other species in the family Octopodidae
- Thaumoctopus mimicus - Mimic octopus
- Abdopus aculeatus - Algae octopus
- Wunderpus photogenicus - Wunderpus octopus
- Hapalochlaena lunulata - Blue-ringed octopus
- Hapalochlaena maculosa - Blue-ringed Octopus
- Pteroctopus tetracirrhus - Four-armed Octopod
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 210788)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2289535)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia