Equally mysterious and beautiful, octopuses are adorable creatures. There are over 300 species of octopus and they thrive in any ocean and any habitat. Their soft bodies can quickly change shape, going from small to large in a matter of seconds. Their nervous system and brain functions are among the most complex found in invertebrates. Octopuses come in all shapes and sizes, but which one is the largest? By studying their length and weight, it is easy to determine which of these eight-pointed cephalopods is the largest of all. Here are the ten largest octopuses in the world.
# 10: Octopus Dumbo
Octopus dumbo (Grimpoteuthis) gets its name from the famous Disney character due to its large fins that resemble elephant ears. While the average dumbo octopus is 7.9 to 12 inches long, some can grow much larger. The largest recorded specimen was 5 feet 10 inches long and weighed nearly 13 pounds. In total, there are more than 15 species of dumbo octopus. They are the deepest octopuses, living at least 13,100 feet deep, making sightings extremely rare. In addition, they are one of the few octopus species that do not have an ink sac as they have few natural predators. The IUCN currently lists the dumbo octopus as the species of least concern.
# 9: Southern Red Octopus
Also known as Patagonian red octopus, southern red octopus (Enteroctopus megalocyatus) is part of the genus Enteroctopus or a giant octopus. Although not as massive as other Enteroctopus species, the southern red octopus can still grow to impressive size. Their average weight is 8.8 pounds and they are usually around 3.3 feet in length. Southern red octopuses are distinguished by their bright red color and scapular papillae. They are native to the coasts of Chile and Argentina, where they are one of the most common octopus species. At this time, the IUCN has not yet assessed the status of the southern red octopus.
# 8: Yellow Octopus
Yellow octopus (Enteroctopus zealandicus) is another representative of the genus Enteroctopus… There is little information about these mysterious creatures, so scientists must estimate how much they can grow. The largest yellow octopus to date weighed 11 pounds and was 4.6 feet long. The yellow octopus is found in the waters surrounding New Zealand, and although there are many, few have been found. At this time, the IUCN has not assessed the status of the yellow octopus.
# 7: Mimic Octopus
Mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is one of the most unusual octopus species in the ocean. They are sexually dimorphic as females are much larger than males. While males usually weigh 5 to 6 pounds, females can easily weigh up to 20 pounds. The mimic octopus has an average length of 2 feet, although they can be longer. Many species can disguise their bodies, but mimicking octopuses are experts at taking on the appearance of other animals and blending in with their environment. They stretch from the Red Sea to New Caledonia and between the Gulf of Thailand and the Great Barrier Reef. To date, the IUCN has not assessed the status of the facial octopus.
# 6: common octopus
In addition to being one of the largest known species, the common octopus (Common octopus) is also one of the best studied. Weight and length can vary, but they typically range from 6.6-22 pounds to 1-3 feet in length. There are many of them and they can be found all over the world. Their favorite food is crabs, crayfish and shellfish, but they are not picky about their food. Like all octopuses, they have three hearts and a large, highly developed nervous system and brain. While common octopuses live in any water temperature, they congregate in relatively shallow rocky areas off the coast. The IUCN lists the common octopus as the species of least concern.
# 5: southern giant octopus
Similar to other members of the genus Enteroctopus, southern giant octopus (Enteroctopus magnificus) is known for its distinctive size. Samples usually weigh around 25 pounds and can reach 6 feet in length. They grow in the waters off the coast of Namibia and South Africa and, as a rule, like to spend time in shallow sublittoral areas. Southern giant octopuses prey on a wide variety of prey, but their diet mainly consists of deep-sea portanid crab. The IUCN has not yet assessed the status of the southern giant octopus, although catches from the fisheries are generally small.
# 4: Maori octopus
Also known as the New Zealand octopus, the Maori octopus (Macroctopus maorum) is slightly larger than the southern giant octopus. On average, they weigh 22 to 26.5 pounds and range from 3.3 to 6.5 feet in length. Maori octopuses are known to be aggressive even when compared to other octopus species. Females can lay up to 7,000 eggs at a time and fiercely defend their offspring from predators. They are predominantly located in the waters surrounding South Australia and New Zealand. Currently, the IUCN has not assessed the status of the Maori octopus, although the population remains stable based on catch data.
# 3: Fried Giant Pacific Octopus
Discovered in 2017, the Giant Ruffled Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is a close relative of the giant Pacific octopus. The grooved giant Pacific octopus is distinguished from its sister species by a frill of fused papillae on its body and two white patches on its head. Little information is available on their average size, but biologists estimate they can reach 110 pounds and 16 feet in length. They can be found around Prince William Sound on the southern coast of Alaska. Due to its recent discovery, the IUCN has not yet assessed the status of the frilled giant Pacific octopus.
# 2: Octopus with seven arms
Although its name is somewhat misleading, the seven-armed octopus (Halifron Atlantic) has eight arms, like all other octopus species. Their name comes from the unique hand used to fertilize eggs by males of this species, curled up in a pouch under the right eye. Among the famous octopuses, they are second only to the giant Pacific octopus in size. They can reach a maximum weight of 165 pounds and a length of about 11 feet. Most of the specimens came from the Atlantic Ocean, but rare cases have been seen in the South Pacific. The IUCN lists the seven-armed octopus as the species of least concern.
# 1: giant Pacific octopus
Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is the largest octopus species in the world. They usually weigh around 150 pounds and are over 15 feet long. However, the largest recorded specimen weighed nearly 600 pounds and was 30 feet long. Their diet consists of shellfish, shrimp, crabs, abalone, snails, scallops, fish, lobsters, and even other octopuses. Occasionally, giant Pacific octopuses even hunt small sharks such as spiny sea fish. Observations typically occur in waters bordering the western United States, British Columbia, Alaska, Japan, Russia, and the Korean Peninsula. The population of the Pacific giant octopus is unknown and is currently classified as the species of least concern by the IUCN.