Octopuses are creatures that continue to amaze with their dexterity and intelligence. With a physical composition that defies everything we know, since they have three hearts and eight brains, octopods are crowned kings of marine mystery. It is believed that there could be close to 800 species of octopus, of which we only know 248. But among all of them there is one that stands out for its large size, the giant Pacific octopus.
What is the largest octopus in the world?
As its name suggests, the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) It is the largest octopus in the world. As far as we know, the average size of an octopus of this species is around 5 meters and 50 kilograms in weight. However, specimens have been found that far exceed such estimates.
The largest specimen found so far was 9 meters wide and weighed about 300 kilograms. It is not known if in the depths there could be giant octopuses larger than this, which exceed what we know about cephalopods. But in the case of an ecosystem of which we have only explored 5%, it is likely that unimaginable creatures inhabit the depths.
This species is distributed throughout the temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean. Long they stretch from southern California and as far as Alaska. And west to east from the Aleutian Islands to Japan. Regarding its diet, the giant Pacific octopus feeds mainly on fish, lobsters and clams. Although there are records that they can also devour sharks and birds, using their tentacles as their main weapons.
How long do giant octopuses live?
Nature has a firm purpose that it pursues at all costs; survival. Most animals are governed by this premise and that is why they die after their reproductive age has ended. Man is the exception to this rule, but it is believed that it is because grandmothers play an important role in the survival of their grandchildren and thanks to this, the average human life span is so long after their reproductive years have ended.
But in giant octopuses the premise is fulfilled, since they only live for about four years. Both the male and the female die shortly after breeding. In fact, it is said that females commit suicide after leaving offspring, because during the eight months that their young are incubated, they take such pains to care for them that they stop eating to the point of starvation.
perfect camouflage
Like other octopods, the giant Pacific octopus has the ability to blend in with its surroundings. They are capable of changing color and also imitating textures by activating certain muscles in their skin that give them a rough appearance. Thanks to this, they can be camouflaged with corals, plants and even rocks with much more complex designs.
The giant Pacific octopus has captivated biologists who are still trying to investigate how they thrive in the deep sea. But without a doubt, these are amazing creatures that challenge our understanding of fauna. Knowing about them is a way of educating ourselves about their importance and, in some way, contributing to their preservation.
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