The North Pacific giant octopus, sometimes known simply as the giant octopus of the North Pacific, is a big marine mollusk that belongs to the genus Enteroctopus. It is the species of octopus that grows to be the largest. The giant Pacific octopus can also be identified by the characteristic reddish-pink hue of its skin. Just below the surface of the octopus’s skin are specialized pigment cells known as chromatophores that give it the ability to change color and fit in with its rocky or coral-filled environment. Octopuses are classified as mollusks, and they have two tiny plates in their heads that serve as their shells. The majority of their bodies are soft.

How many suction cups in a limb of a giant Pacific octopus?

The limbs of giant Pacific octopuses have more than two thousand individual suction cups.

Giant Pacific octopus diet

They consume a variety of small crustaceans. Crabs, scallops, shrimp, snails, fish, squid and lobsters are some of the common preys of the giant octopus.

Giant Pacific octopus size comparison to human

The arms spread is anything between 4 and 6 meters. Their weight could be anything between 15 and 50 kg.

Because of their impressive size and fascinating physiological makeup, giant Pacific octopuses are becoming an attraction to visitors.

Hemocyanin – The blue blood of octopus

Because of the presence of a copper-rich protein called hemocyanin in their circulation, gigantic Pacific octopuses are also famous for having blue blood in their bodies.  This protein is able to carry oxygen in cold temperatures.

Intelligence of giant Pacific octopus

The brain of an octopus features folding lobes, which is a property that is uniquely associated with complexity. It also possesses visual and tactile memory regions. They have around 300 million neurons in their brains.

They can perform simple tasks and use certain tools to open bottles, escape from closed spaces.

Habitat and lifespan of the giant Pacific octopus

Octopuses found in the Pacific Ocean spend the most of their life in a solitary manner.

Their lifespans in the ocean normally range from three to five years. Females may live off of their own body fat until their eggs hatch, after which they inevitably die from starvation.

Female giant Pacific octopuses lay eggs anywhere from eighteen thousand to seventy thousand. One egg is only a few millimeters in size.

Giant Pacific octopus conservation

It is possible that future climate change scenarios will have varying degrees of impact on these animals.