Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Along the U.S. Pacific coast, the giant Pacific octopus is the world’s largest octopus. It can change both skin color and texture to blend in with rocks.

Appearance

Appearance: Adults can spread their arms about 16 ft (5 m). Their soft skin may look pale gray or deep red and can turn bumpy.

Look-alikes

East Pacific red octopusOctopus rubescens

The East Pacific red octopus (Octopus rubescens) stays much smaller. In a close photo, look below each eye: it has three small projections there, while a giant Pacific octopus does not. A distant photo of a young octopus may not show enough detail.

Why they get mixed upBoth can look reddish on the U.S. West Coast.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Rocky reefs
Seafloor crevices
Range: Found off Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and California. Its range also crosses the North Pacific to Japan.

Behavior

Diet: Off Alaska, it eats crabs, shrimp, clams, scallops, and fish.
Activity: Usually solitary, it shelters in a ; discarded shells can collect outside.

Life cycle

Nest: A female hangs strands of eggs in a rocky den and keeps them clean while they develop.
Clutch size: Up to about 100,000 eggs.
Lifespan: Usually about 3–5 years.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: This large octopus is often displayed in U.S. aquariums.
In Alaska, it is also caught in commercial fisheries.

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