Octopus Vulgaris
The films that manage to move me, and maybe even make me cry, can roughly be classified into: Disney movies, or movies involving children or animals. I imagine that the innocence and beauty of nature really strikes a chord in me.
So, when I watched “My Octopus Teacher“, I had to keep a box of Kleenex close by. If you haven’t seen the movie “My Octopus Teacher” yet, do it right away! You really learn a lot about the common octopus from a behavioral and “emotional” point of view.
Here, I’d like to tell you about the main characteristics and some interesting facts about the octopus, “octopus vulgaris”.
Description of the Octopus Vulgaris
The Octopus Vulgaris, or common octopus, is a mollusk of the class Cephalopoda. The body of the common octopus has no skeleton and consists of a large head with two bulging eyes. On the sides of its head are the gill membranes and a siphon that expels water. The common octopus has 8 tentacles surrounding the octopus’s beak. Each tentacle has two rows of suckers. The head of the common octopus grows up to 25 cm in length, and the tentacles can reach a length of about 1 m.
It’s able to change its shape and appearance, altering the structure, color and texture of its skin. This allows the octopus to hide in small crevices, passing through tiny spaces, or to mimic its surrounding environment. The common octopus has a gland that produces black ink, stored in a sac, which can be quickly released into the surrounding environment. This ink creates a dark cloud in the water, allowing the common octopus to confuse a predator and escape.
Habitat of the Octopus Vulgaris
The common octopus is a species found all over the world and is very common in the Mediterranean Sea. In the Marine Protected Area of Ustica and Isola delle Femmine, it’s often possible to encounter the octopus while diving. It lives at depths from just a few meters down to 50 meters and hides in holes or crevices in the rocky seabed. Their dens can be recognized by an accumulation of shells and pebbles found near the entrance. The common octopus is a typically nocturnal animal, leaving its den to hunt at dusk and returning in the morning.
Diet of the Octopus Vulgaris
The common octopus is fond of crabs and mollusks, but it can actually eat anything it catches. Its prey is captured and immobilized by its tentacles, and it also uses its beak to break the hard shells of mollusks or crustaceans.
Reproduction of the Octopus Vulgaris
The common octopus has male and female individuals. When they meet, the male octopus uses a specialized arm to transfer his sperm packets from his reproductive organ to the female’s mantle cavity. Usually the third arm on the right is used, which has modified suckers near the tip. The female octopus finds a safe den in which to lay her eggs, where she stays to guard and protect them until they hatch. Throughout this entire period she never leaves the den, so she is unable to feed, which weakens her extremely.
Lifespan of the Octopus Vulgaris
The common octopus has a relatively short life expectancy of 12-24 months. Its lifespan is limited by reproduction. Female octopuses die shortly after their eggs hatch, and male octopuses live only a few months after mating.
Fun facts about the Octopus Vulgaris
– The common octopus has a complex nervous system, with most of its nerves located in its tentacles. Its excellent eyesight, special organs and chemoreceptors give the octopus a detailed sense of its position relative to gravity, of the colors and shapes around it, and even of the taste of whatever it touches.
– The common octopus is considered the most intelligent invertebrate. It has shown evidence of a memory system in problem-solving experiments, and has even been reported to practice observational learning, such as unscrewing jars to reach food simply by watching another octopus do it.
– Just as in the movie “My Octopus Teacher”, octopuses have been observed playing and using “tools” to achieve certain goals.
– The common octopus has three hearts: one systemic heart that circulates blood throughout the body, and two hearts that pump blood through each of the gills. When the octopus swims, its systemic heart is inactive. This explains why the octopus tires easily when swimming and prefers to crawl.
– The blood of the common octopus is blue. This bluish color is explained by the fact that the protein used to transport oxygen, hemocyanin, is copper-based rather than iron-based like hemoglobin.
Dive sites where you can find the Octopus Vulgaris
The octopus can be encountered on virtually any dive, but there are sites where it’s much easier to find, such as:
In the Marine Protected Area of Ustica:
In the Marine Protected Area of Isola delle Femmine:
Punta Matese dive site
Grotta dell’Olio dive site
Parete dell’Ancora dive site
L’Isolotto dive site.
But as mentioned, the common octopus is a master of camouflage; it hides well behind its shells in its den, or perfectly mimics its surroundings, so you have to pay close attention to catch the details that reveal its presence. Let’s just say it takes a trained eye to spot them.
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