White-spotted octopus (Octopus macropus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Octopus macropus
- Common name
- White-spotted octopus
- Category
- Molluscs
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Genus
- Octopus
- Size
- 50–120 cm
- Depth
- 1–100 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, nocturnal, predator
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Octopus macropus reaches 1.2 m span (very long arms). Large octopus (Octopodidae) Mediterranean, tropical and temperate Atlantic very distinctive by its very elongated arms (hence macropus, long feet) with red-brown to red-orange body sprinkled with small scattered white spots. Lives from 1 to 100 m on rocky and coral reefs of Mediterranean, Caribbean, tropical East Atlantic. Very nocturnal. Tropical cousin of O. vulgaris (seed) and O. cyanea Indo-Pacific. Iconic wide-angle photo subject of Med night dives.
Photo of White-spotted octopus
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the White-spotted octopus?
- White-spotted octopus (Octopus macropus) reaches 50–120 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the White-spotted octopus?
- White-spotted octopus is found between 1–100 m deep.
- Is the White-spotted octopus dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the White-spotted octopus?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the White-spotted octopus?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Octopus
- Octopus vulgaris - Common octopus
- Octopus mototi - Mototi octopus
- Octopus hubbsorum - Hubbs' octopus
- Octopus salutii - Spider octopus
- Octopus bimaculatus - Two-spot octopus
- Octopus briareus - Caribbean reef octopus
Other species in the family Octopodidae
- Hapalochlaena lunulata - Blue-ringed octopus
- Wunderpus photogenicus - Wunderpus octopus
- Abdopus aculeatus - Algae octopus
- Thaumoctopus mimicus - Mimic octopus
- Hapalochlaena maculosa - Blue-ringed Octopus
- Pteroctopus tetracirrhus - Four-armed Octopod
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 140603)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2289557)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia