Octopus cyanea

(Gray, 1849)

Vernacular names
English : Big blue octopus
French : Poulpe de récif

Classification
Class : Cephalopoda
Order : Octopoda
Family : Octopodidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to a mantle size of 16 cm and arm length of nearly 80 cm. Mantle has an elongated purse-like shape. Coloration and skin texture highly variable but skin usually smooth with reddish-brown coloration, sometimes clearer.

Range and habitat
The species lives in the Indo-Pacific area, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii, north to South Japan, south to Australia. Lives in sandy, rocky or muddy bottoms, always close to coral reefs, to 60 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species has a huge range and isn’t targeted by fisheries globally but its dependence on coral reefs is a possible threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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