Home › Species › Molluscs › Four-armed Octopod

Four-armed Octopod (Pteroctopus tetracirrhus)

Key facts

Scientific name
Pteroctopus tetracirrhus
Common name
Four-armed Octopod
Category
Molluscs
Family
Octopodidae
Genus
Pteroctopus
Size
20–35 cm
Depth
50–2000 m
IUCN status
Least concern (LC)
Danger level
Harmless
Habitats
open-water
Behaviours
pelagic, slow-mover
Ocean zones
Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean

Description

Pteroctopus tetracirrhus reaches 35 cm. Abyssal octopod (Cephalopoda, Cirrata). Four cirri pairs (mobile tentacular filaments). Ultra-deep pelagic, slow sail-propelled swimmer. Transparent/translucent bioluminescent. Micro-organism midwater predator. 50-2000 m, mostly 500-1500 m. Extremely rarely observed even by deep divers. LC. Little known to divers.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Four-armed Octopod?
Four-armed Octopod (Pteroctopus tetracirrhus) reaches 20–35 cm in length.
At what depth can you find the Four-armed Octopod?
Four-armed Octopod is found between 50–2000 m deep.
Is the Four-armed Octopod dangerous to divers?
Danger level: Harmless.
What is the conservation status of the Four-armed Octopod?
IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
Where can you find the Four-armed Octopod?
Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia, Mediterranean.

Other species in the family Octopodidae

  • Octopus vulgaris - Common octopus
  • Hapalochlaena lunulata - Blue-ringed octopus
  • Wunderpus photogenicus - Wunderpus octopus
  • Octopus mototi - Mototi octopus
  • Abdopus aculeatus - Algae octopus
  • Thaumoctopus mimicus - Mimic octopus

Sources

  • Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 140606)
  • Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
  • Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2289422)
  • Conservation: IUCN Red List
  • Encyclopedia: Wikipedia