Cephalopod · octopus

Giant Pacific octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

PacificAtlanticIndianSouthernArctic A single ocean

Depth

From the coast down to about 1,500 m

Size

Often 2 to 10 kg, measured record 71 kg at nearly 4 m

Diet

Crabs, shrimp, shellfish, fish, other octopuses

Zone

The sea floor · 200 – 3,500 m

Key facts

• It is the largest octopus in the world. The biggest specimen measured weighed 71 kg.
• It usually lives 3 to 5 years, which is long for an octopus.
• Adults die shortly after breeding. The female guards her eggs until they hatch.
• In the Gulf of Alaska, 73% of the sleeper shark stomachs examined contained remains of this octopus.

Verified sources

1. Guinness World Records, Largest octopus
2. SeaLifeBase, Enteroctopus dofleini
3. University of Washington, Interactive Oceans: Giant Pacific Octopus
4. ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research, Pacific sleeper shark

In the game: Prey: +25 points

In the same zone

Casper ghost octopusUndescribed incirrate octopus Giant vent clamCalyptogena magnifica Venus’ flower basketEuplectella aspergillum Vent eelpoutThermarces cerberus Eyeless vent shrimpRimicaris exoculata Deep-reef white coralDesmophyllum pertusum (formerly Lophelia pertusa)