Common octopus

Distribution : Mediterranean · Atlantic Ocean

Marine region

On a large vase from the palace of Knossos in Crete, an octopus spreads six arms instead of eight. Made around 1450–1400 BCE, the pottery shows how ancient artists adapted marine animals to decorate their objects. The jar, about 75 cm tall, is now kept at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Habitat

Sand, Rocky habitat, Coralligenous habitat

Depth

5-150 m

Group

Role

Predator

Average size

60 cm

Precautions

Its bite can be painful and lead to infection if not properly cleaned.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The common octopus spreads eight arms, each lined with two rows of suckers. Behind the head, the body forms a rounded sac.

The skin has no fixed colour. Its shade and surface can change rapidly, appearing smooth or rougher.

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