Common Octopus

The Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is one of the most popular animals here at Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay. With its large balloon-like head and its 8 arms, it is no surprise they’re a headline exhibit here at the aquarium. As one of the most intelligent creatures to inhabit our oceans, their habits and quirks make for interesting viewing. 

How to Identify a Common Octopus

The best way to identify a common octopus is by looking for 8 long arms, all with 2 rows of suckers lining them. Their body colour is typically brownish-green, but it is known to change colour depending on the environment and its mood. Their bodies are also warty. 

Interesting Common Octopus Facts

The common octopus is a fascinating creature, with many quirks and habits. Below are some of our favourite interesting common octopus facts.

They Can Camouflage 

Common Octopus have the brilliant ability to almost instantaneously switch colours, patterns and textures to match their surroundings. They do this in order to bamboozle their predators. Sharks, eels and dolphins all swim by without even noticing the octopus. But how do they do it?

By using a network of pigment cells and specialised muscles in its skin called sacs, the octopus is able to squeeze and contract them to match their surroundings. What this squeezing and contracting does is intensify the colour or reduce it where needed. 

Female Common Octopus are Devoted Mothers

Female Octopus have a fascinating yet short relationship with their young. They are known to watch over their eggs day and night, often flushing them with water from their funnel to keep them aerated. Sadly, once they have hatched, they commonly perish. In a form of self-destruction, once the eggs have hatched, the mother will quit eating before passing away. They are known as semelparous animals.

Ink Defence

Common Octopus are armed with ink to defend themselves from predators. When discovered by a predator, they release a cloud of black ink to obscure the attacker’s view, giving them time to swim away. It isn’t just the predator’s vision they obscure, the ink they release contains a substance that dulls their attacker’s sense of smell, making the fleeing octopus harder to track when out of sight.

What Do Common Octopus Eat?

Common Octopus are carnivores and are known to eat crabs, crawfish and molluscs. 

What is a Common Octopus Habitat?

They are usually found in rocky shorelines  Their habitat consists of ‘dens’ which are made up of rocks that have produced small holes and crevices. They prefer rocky or shallow bodies of water no deeper than 200 metres.