Contrary to popular belief, octopuses’ eight appendages are called “arms”, not “tentacles”. The name “cephalopod” comes from the fact that their arms are connected directly to their heads. Therefore, we need your donations to provide resources that enables scientists, researchers, and marine lovers-alike to find more about the potential rarity of the Giant Pacific Octopus and other cephalopods.Giant Pacific octopuses are cephalopods (meaning “head-foot”) and are related to squid and cuttlefish. They are highly susceptible to pollution as well. According to National Geographic, the “red list” status of the octopus (indicating their level of endangerment), is “unknown”, which means we need more research about these animals. There is not much known about the scarcity of the Giant Pacific Octopus and other octopuses. Of course, humans also hunt these creatures on a regular basis as a food source. More specifically, the Giant Pacific Octopus is usually hunted by animals larger than them such as seals, otters and sperm whales. Baby octopus larvae are usually eaten by zooplankton and other creatures that feeds on these small animals. If none of these work, they octopus can squeeze their soft bodies into hard-to-reach places where predators cannot reach them!Īlthough the Giant Pacific Octopus and octopus alike are intelligent, they suffer to predators just like other animals in the wild. The octopus can then squirt out powerful jets from their siphons to propel themselves in the water and swim away quickly. The inks squirt out from their body as a natural reaction for their fight-or-flight system, and use the black substance to confuse their enemy by blocking their vision underwater. They can change from a smooth and shiny texture, to a rough and rocky “looking” epidermis!Īnother adaptation is their use of a combination of inks and jets to escape from their enemies. These creatures has the ability to change in colour and texture that mimics their surroundings! For example, if an octopus was trying to hide, they can see (using their human-like vision) and copy the surface they rest upon to hide and camouflage themselves from predators.

Like other Octopuses, the Giant Pacific Octopus has several biological features that allows them to adapt and thrive in their environment. Because they are carnivores, when they go for night hunting, they prey on small creatures such as shellfishes, fish, and/or larger animals such as small sharks and even birds!. The use their tentacles, suckers (found beneath their tentacles), and funnels to move underwater. The Giant Pacific Octopus lives underwater in the Pacific Ocean, where they usually thrive in temperatures around 8-12 degrees Celsius (they prefer colder waters). According to National Geographic, the largest and heaviest octopus seen was 30 feet in size and 600 pounds in weight! According to National Geographic, their average size is 9.75 to 16 feet with a weight between 22 to 110 pounds! They’re almost as big as a 6 foot tall human being! Moreover, this species of octopus can lives between 3 to 5 years. The Giant Pacific Octopus is a type of octopus species that is known for their average large sizes, weight and their longer life spans. Another general fact about the octopus is that they have three hearts! One main heart that pumps blue blood throughout the circulatory system, while the other two pumps blood to the gills. However, due to the beak’s hard material, this acts as a limiter on how small the space that an octopus can occupy (they can only fit in spaces larger than the beak size). According to Alina Bradford, the Giant Pacific Octopus also has a hard beak underneath their bodies which allows them to eat other animals. This allows them to stretch to reach and grab distant objects underwater, or squeeze into tiny spaces. They are invertebrates, which means they have no bones. Just like the other octopuses, the Giant Pacific Octopus has eight limbs, which are attached directly to their head.

Giant pacific octopus