giant pacific octopus (enteroctopus dofleini)
The Giant Pacific Octopus can be found in the coastal North Pacific, usually at a depth of around 215 ft., it can live in much shallower or much deeper waters. It is the largest octopus species, based on a scientific record of a 156.5 lb individual weighed live. The Giant Pacific Octopus are distinguished from other species by their sheer size. Adults usually weigh around 33 lb, with an arm span of up to 14 ft. The mantle of the octopus is spherical in shape and contains most of the animal's major organs. The skin of the octopus is somewhat smooth and by contracting or expanding tiny pigments, known as chromatophores, in its cells an octopus can change the color of its skin, giving it the ability to blend into the environment. This species of octopus commonly preys upon shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalone, clams, and fish. It procures food with its suckers, which is then crushed with its tough "beak" of chitin. They have also been observed catching sharks of 3-4 feet in length in captivity. Additionally, consumed carcasses of shark species have been found in Giant Pacific Octopus middens in the wild, providing strong evidence that these octopuses predate on sharks in their natural habitat.
