Common octopuses
With eight arms, colour-changing skin and a talent for solving problems, the octopus is one of the sea's most surprising animals. The common octopus, which also lives off Türkiye's coasts, lives only a year or two.
- Longueur
- 0,6–1,3 m
- Poids
- 3–10 kg
- Longévité dans la nature
- 1–2 ans
- Statut de conservation (UICN)
- Préoccupation mineure (LC)
Valeurs approximatives pour les adultes ; elles varient selon le sexe, la sous-espèce et la population.
En un coup d'œil
Les faits essentiels sur Pieuvres communes.
- Where does it live?It lives on rocky and stony bottoms near the coast in temperate and warm seas, especially the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
- What does it eat?It is a carnivore that eats crabs, mussels, oysters and other shellfish, as well as small fish.
- Behaviour and social lifeOctopuses live alone and usually hide in a den among rocks.
- YoungThe female hangs thousands of tiny eggs from the ceiling of a den and cleans and guards them for weeks without eating.
En détail
En bref
- The octopus has eight arms and three hearts.
- It can change the colour and texture of its skin in seconds.
- It is known for its problem-solving and learning abilities.
- It lives along Türkiye's coasts, especially in the Aegean and Mediterranean.
- It usually lives only 1–2 years; the female dies after guarding her eggs.
The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a soft-bodied, boneless sea animal belonging to the cephalopods. Each of its eight arms has hundreds of suckers. A large share of its nerve cells are in its arms, which allows the arms to act somewhat on their own.
Where does it live?
It lives on rocky and stony bottoms near the coast in temperate and warm seas, especially the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic. In Türkiye it is common along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.
What does it eat?
It is a carnivore that eats crabs, mussels, oysters and other shellfish, as well as small fish. It can open hard shells with its beak and special secretions.
Behaviour and social life
Octopuses live alone and usually hide in a den among rocks. When in danger they squirt ink and escape. Special cells in their skin let them change colour and texture to blend in. Laboratory and field observations show that octopuses can open jars, solve mazes and learn from experience.
Young
The female hangs thousands of tiny eggs from the ceiling of a den and cleans and guards them for weeks without eating. She dies shortly after the eggs hatch. The young drift in open water as plankton for a while.
Conservation status
The common octopus is listed as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. It is commercially important, and heavy fishing can put pressure on populations in some areas.
Fun facts
- Octopus blood is blue because of a copper-based protein.
- A lost arm can grow back over time.
- Having no bones, they can squeeze through any gap larger than their beak.
Animaux similaires
D'autres animaux du même groupe.
Respect de la nature, des lendemains plus forts
Protéger la faune sauvage est l'affaire de tous.
Si vous trouvez un animal sauvage blessé ou un petit, ne le touchez pas et prévenez le service local de protection de la nature. Plus de savoir, plus de conscience.
- Respecter les habitats naturels
- Observer les animaux de loin
- Ne laisser aucun déchet dans la nature
- Soutenir un avenir durable
