Kingdom Animalia Order Octopoda Genus Enteroctopus Higher classification Enteroctopus | Phylum Mollusca Family Octopodidae Mass 4 kg (Adult) Rank Species | |
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Scientific name Enteroctopus megalocyathus Similar Octopus, Enteroctopus, Cephalopod, Cellana sandwicensis, Chiton magnificus | ||
Pulpo chiloe enteroctopus megalocyathus
Enteroctopus megalocyathus, also known as the southern red octopus, is a medium-sized octopus, and the type species for the genus Enteroctopus.
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Size and description
E. megalocyathus is a relatively large octopus, though not as large as some other giant octopuses, with an average mass of around 4 kg, a mantle length of 22.5 cm, and in excess of 1 m in total length. E. megalocyathus, like other octopuses in the genus Enteroctopus, has longitudinal folds and grooves on the body and large, paddle-like papillae.
Fisheries
E. megalocyathus is one of the two commercially significant octopuses in Chilean waters, along with Octopus mimus. Yearly catch of the two octopuses fluctuates between 2000 and 5000 tons.
Predators
Like most octopuses, E. megalocyathus is a choice meal for many predators larger than it. E. megalocyathus has been shown to be a major dietary component of beaked skates (Dipturus chilensis), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias), and the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens).
Range
This octopus is native to the southeastern coast of South America along the coasts of Argentina and Chile up to the Chiloé Archipelago, and the Falkland Islands.