Plainbody Octopus (species: Octopus aspilosomatis) in taxonomy (Gaia Guide)
Animalia > Bilateria > Protostomia > Lophozoa > Mollusca > Cephalopoda > Coleoidea > Octopodiformes > Octopoda > Incirrata > Octopodoidea > Octopodidae > Octopodinae > Octopus > Octopus aspilosomatis (gallery)
Octopus aspilosomatis
Plainbody Octopus


©Anne: Octopus aspilosomatis hunting at night near Loomis Beach, Lizard Island. Total length about 30 cm.

©Anne: Octopus aspilosomatis hunting at night near Loomis Beach, Lizard Island. Total length about 30 cm.

©Anne: Octopus aspilosomatis in shallow water off Casuarina Beach at night. It is about 1 cm between the eyes and it was eating a small fish. Thanks to Prof Roy Caldwell and Dr Chrissy Huffard (U Califonia Berkeley) for the identification.

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Class Cephalopoda
Order Octopoda
Family Octopodidae
Genus Octopus
Species Octopus aspilosomatis
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Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

Dorsal arms are longer than ventral and lateral arms (Reid, 2016).

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Comments

Roy Caldwell notes that the photo above is likely Octopus aspilosomatis based on color pattern, short rear legs and eye shape; the species is known from the area, is nocturnal and is from the right habitat.

by Anne Hoggett

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Octopus aspilosomatis

Web resources

Danger

  • requires treatment

References

References that assist with identification

  • Reid, A. (2016). Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories CSIRO, Clayton, Vic., Australia.