Kingdom Animalia Class Cephalopoda Family Octopodidae Rank Species | Phylum Mollusca Order Octopoda Genus Octopus | |
Similar Octopus, Octopodidae, Octopus bimaculatus, Octopus tehuelchus, Octopus pallidus | ||
Octopus mimus chromatophores firing off
The Gould octopus, Octopus mimus (Gould, 1852), is commonly found between northern Peru and northern Chile. The species is relatively large with a round sacciform mantle without fins. The tentacles are moderately large, approximately 4 times longer than the mantle. The 3rd tentacle on the right holds the short, thin copulatory organ in males. The color ranges, with individuals commonly speckled a mix of gray, yellow, black, green. It is primarily bentonic, living in rocky substrates and kelp forests until depths of 200 m. The species is dicecious, breeding throughout the year with one or two peaks depending on the latitud. After mating the female cares for the eggs letting her body deteriorate until death. This animal grows up to 115 cm in length and 3.7 kg in females and 107 cm in length and 4.4 kg in males. Juveniles can double in size ever 30 to 60 days. The Gould octopus is an opportunistic predator feeding primarily on crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and echinoderms. This species is also commonly fished in Peru and Chile.