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Mollusk. The common octopus is a master of camouflage, changing shape and color at will. Octopuses often match their surroundings to the point of becoming invisible while motionless. To cover movements and confuse predators, they release a cloud of dark ink, called sepia, gaining time to escape. Common octopuses have an arm span of 3 meters (10 feet). Because they have no bones, octopuses can squeeze into the tiniest places. They are very intelligent. In laboratory studies, scientists have observed that the octopus can figure out mazes and puzzles. There are more than 100 octopus species in the world. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Octopus vulgaris |
12 to 18 months |
| Diet |
| Carnivore. Crustaceans, particularly crabs; mollusks, worms and fish. |
| Predators and Threats |
| Moray eels, sharks, whales, seals, large fish, and humans. |
| Habitat |
| Tropical and temperate waters, worldwide. |
