Wildlife
The North Pacific giant octopus is the largest octopus species in the world, with a 10m arm span. Living on average 3-5 years they are also one of the longest living octopus species. After a single mating, females lay up to 100,000 eggs in a den and die soon after the eggs have hatched. Males also die soon after mating. It has been estimated that a mature female will have about 280 suckers per arm.
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Home of the giant octopus
Nutrient-rich waters along the Pacific coast support life large and small.
Nutrient-rich waters along the Pacific coast support life large and small.
Octopus outsmarts fishermen
An octopus has mastered crab cages to the dismay of local fishermen.
An octopus has mastered crab cages to the dismay of local fishermen.
Invertebrate intelligentsia
Steve Backshall meets a phenomenal predator: the brainy giant Pacific octopus.
Steve Backshall meets a phenomenal predator: the brainy giant Pacific octopus.
The following habitats are found across the North Pacific giant octopus distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Enteroctopus dofleini, also known as the giant Pacific octopus or North Pacific giant octopus, is a large cephalopod belonging to the genus Enteroctopus. It can be found in the coastal North Pacific, usually at a depth of around 65 m (215 ft). It can, however, live in much shallower or much deeper waters. It is arguably the largest octopus species, based on a scientific record of a 71 kg (156 lb) individual weighed live. The alternative contender is the seven-arm octopus (Haliphron atlanticus) based on a 61 kg (134 lb) carcass estimated to have a live mass of 75 kg (165 lb). However, a number of questionable size records would suggest E. dofleini is the largest of all octopus species by a considerable margin.
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Ambush predator
Learning
Migration
Predation defence
Adapted to swimming
Camouflage
Carnivorous
Tactile sense
Maternal care
Egg layer
Active at birth
Semelparous
Spawning
Venomous
Visual communication
Predator