Giant Pacific octopus
Appearance and lifestyle:
The Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is the largest species in the world, with one specimen weighing 270 kg and stretching more than nine metres long. They have a short life span of between 3-5 years. The males usually die after mating and the females protect and guard their eggs until they hatch, once they hatch the females die shortly afterwards.
Habitat:
These octopuses inhabit the northern Pacific Ocean and reside in a range of depths, from shallow tidal pools to as far as 1500 metres.
Diet:
The Giant Pacific octopus preys on crustaceans such as snails and shellfish, although they will occasionally prey on smaller octopuses and even small sharks.
Threats:
Some of the threats they face are climate change, pollution, habitat loss etc.
Giant Pacific octopuses are the longest-living species, with lifespans of up to 5 years.
The giant Pacific octopus is distinguished by its reddish-pink colour.
Female giant Pacific octopuses lay 18 000 to 74 000 eggs that are the size of a grain of white rice.