- Southern Giant Octopus
Taxobox
name = Southern Giant Octopus
image_caption =
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Mollusc a
classis =Cephalopod a
ordo =Octopoda
familia =Octopodidae
genus = "Enteroctopus "
species = "E. magnificus"
binomial = "Enteroctopus magnificus"
binomial_authority = (Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992)
synonyms =
*"Octopus magnificus"
Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992
range_
range_map_caption = Distribution of "E. magnificus"The Southern Giant Octopus ("Enteroctopus magnificus") is a largeoctopus in the genus "Enteroctopus ". It is native to the waters offNamibia andSouth Africa .Description
"E. magnificus" bears the distinctive characteristics of the genus "Enteroctopus", including longitudinal folds on the body and large, paddle-like papillae. "E. magnificus" is a large octopus, reaching total lengths of up to 1.8 mNorman, M. (2003). "Cephalopods: A World Guide". ConchBooks: Heckenhaim, Germany. pp. 213–216.] and a mass of 11.4 kg.Villanueva, R. (1993). Diet and mandibular growth of "Octopus magnificus" (Cephalopoda). "South African Journal of Marine Science" 13: 121–126.]
Range and habitat
"E. magnificus" occurs from
Namibia to Port Elizabeth,South Africa . It is found primarily on sand and mud flats from shallow subtidal areas to about 1000 m depth.Predators
"E. magnificus" is predated on by the South African fur seal ("Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus") and the Leafscale gulper shark ("
Centrophorus squamosus ").Diet
Like many octopuses, "E. magnificus" is a generalist predator. The chief food source for this octopus is the deep-sea portunid crab "
Bathynectes piperitus ". Other major prey items include the Cape hagfish ("Myxine capensis "), the crab species "Pontophilus gracilis ", andhermit crab s in the "Parapagurus " genus.Fisheries
"E. magnificus" is only collected by
trawl and inlobster pot s. Harvest of this octopus is small, mainly as afinfish trawl fisheries by-catch.References
External links
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