Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

Common octopus

Distribution : Mediterranean · Atlantic Ocean

Marine region

The octopus was a favourite motif of Minoan potters in Bronze Age Crete. On Marine Style vessels, its arms follow the curves of the pottery, sometimes covering almost the entire surface. The Palaikastro octopus vase, dating to around 1500 BCE, illustrates this approach. Later representations became more stylised, simplifying anatomical details and sometimes even reducing the number of arms.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) has eight arms with two rows of suckers along their inner surfaces. Behind the head, the mantle, the muscular body sac, forms a rounded shape.

Skin colour and texture can change rapidly. Shades and raised features are therefore not fixed characteristics; the paired sucker rows offer a more consistent reference.

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WHERE DOES IT LIVE?
WHAT DOES IT EAT?
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Additional photographic observations

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