Octopi
The two common species in the PNW are:
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Giant Pacific Octopus
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Pacific Red Octopus
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Octopus dofleini
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Octopus reubescens
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 |
Giant Pacific Octopus
Photo by:
Kerry Werry
(copyright 1996-2002 K. Werry)
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Information Regarding Giant Pacific and Pacific Red Octopus
| Habitat |
Benthic
Hides under rocks
Pacific red octopus will bury itself (Anderson 2001) |
| Depth range (meters) |
Intertidal to 150 (Anderson 2001) |
| Behavior |
Can change colors
Secretive, nocturnal
Giant Pacific octopus will occassionally hunt during the day (Anderson 2001)
Can escape from aquariums
|
| Average Maximum weight (kg) |
0.45 for the Pacific red octopus
67.5 for the giant Pacific octopus (Anderson 2001) |
| Overall Maximum Age (years) |
2 Pacific red octopus
3–5 giant Pacific octopus (Anderson 2001) |
| Fecundity |
2,000–3,000 Pacific red octopus
75,000 giant Pacific octopus (Anderson 2001) |
| Spawning Behavior |
Die after mating
Female will guard eggs until they hatch; she will then die (Anderson 2001) |
| Description of Eggs |
Laid in a string (Anderson 2001) |
| Days to Hatch |
120–180 Pacific red octopus
Up to 180 giant Pacific octopus (Anderson 2001) |
| Habitat where Larvae are found |
Planktonic (Anderson 2001) |
| Days in Larval Stage |
60 (Anderson 2001) |
| Adult Food Preference |
Crabs, Bivalves, Limpets, Snails, Abalones, dead Fish (Anderson 2001) |
| Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting |
Clam, Herring, Smelt
Live Crab, Shrimp, Lobster (Anderson 2001) |
| Amount of Food Eaten in Laboratory Setting |
1–2% body weight per day (Anderson 2001) |
| Additional Laboratory Findings |
One octopus per tank since they will attack each other (Anderson 2001) |
| Ornamental Market |
Giant Pacific octopus is too large for home aquariums (Anderson 2001) |
| Parasites or Disease |
Mesozoans, Leeches (Anderson 2001) |
| Additional Remarks |
Excellent sensory organs and intelligence
Most intelligent of all invertebrates
Suckers can "taste" the water
Has venomous saliva (Anderson 2001) |
| Location where Species has been Researched/Farmed |
Pacific red octopus hatchlings have never been reared in a laboratory setting
Giant Pacific octopus has been reared 1–2 times in captivity (Anderson 2001) |
Recent Wild Harvest Data for Oregon
Data from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Data for octopus species
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Year
|
Total Catch
(Pounds)
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Ex-vessel Value
( U.S. Dollars)
|
|
1989
|
15,318
|
8,625
|
|
1990
|
17,022
|
11,532
|
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1991
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14,844
|
10,398
|
|
1992
|
20,169
|
21,478
|
|
1993
|
30,349
|
24,140
|
|
1994
|
9,507
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6,633
|
|
1995
|
5,469
|
11,224
|
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1996
|
16,049
|
14,181
|
|
1997
|
42,236
|
25,480
|
|
1998
|
1,081
|
6,427
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