California Two-spot Octopus
Encyclopedia
The California Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculoides), also known as the "Bimac Octopus", is an octopus
species that lives off the coast of California
. One can identify the species by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. Due to their friendly temperament and relative hardiness, they are considered by most experts to make the best pet
octopus. Bimacs usually live to be about two years old. They are closely related to Verrill's Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus).
coast into Mexico
. Indo-Pacific
: East Africa
to American Samoa
, north to Japan
, south to the Great Barrier Reef
.
s of rock or debris to hide in. It tolerates a wide temperature range (at least 60-80F), though it prefers 65-72 F.
size of 7 inches (17.5 cm) and arms to 23 inches (58 cm). Not usually heavily textured and has several common colors, such as grey with yellow splotches. Uses highly developed crypsis
(camouflage or color changing to match their environment). Octopuses achieve color change in part by chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores; all structures of the skin in increasing depth. Chromatophores are generally known as elastic pigmentsacs with muscle fibers attached letting them expand and contract. The leucophores are important because they allow for the reflection of white light and consequently allow the skin to reflect wavelengths of light which are prevalent in their habitat and produce disruptive patterns. The other aspect to cephalopod
camouflage is the brain which contains nerves coated in chromatophore fibers, controlling coloration patterning.
, mussels, small crabs, crayfish
, snails. Hatchlings feed on amphipods or mysid shrimp
.
Octopus
The octopus is a cephalopod mollusc of the order Octopoda. Octopuses have two eyes and four pairs of arms, and like other cephalopods they are bilaterally symmetric. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the arms...
species that lives off the coast of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. One can identify the species by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. Due to their friendly temperament and relative hardiness, they are considered by most experts to make the best pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
octopus. Bimacs usually live to be about two years old. They are closely related to Verrill's Two-spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus).
Range
Eastern Pacific: mid CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coast into Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Indo-Pacific
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region of the Earth's seas, comprising the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia...
: East Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
, north to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, south to the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
.
Habitat
This species of octopus is found in the intertidal and benthic, from the low tide zone to subtidal depths of about 20 meters (65 ft). It prefers sandy substrate and caveCave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s of rock or debris to hide in. It tolerates a wide temperature range (at least 60-80F), though it prefers 65-72 F.
Characteristics
Reaches a mantleMantle (mollusc)
The mantle is a significant part of the anatomy of molluscs: it is the dorsal body wall which covers the visceral mass and usually protrudes in the form of flaps well beyond the visceral mass itself.In many, but by no means all, species of molluscs, the epidermis of the mantle secretes...
size of 7 inches (17.5 cm) and arms to 23 inches (58 cm). Not usually heavily textured and has several common colors, such as grey with yellow splotches. Uses highly developed crypsis
Crypsis
In ecology, crypsis is the ability of an organism to avoid observation or detection by other organisms. It may be either a predation strategy or an antipredator adaptation, and methods include camouflage, nocturnality, subterranean lifestyle, transparency, and mimicry...
(camouflage or color changing to match their environment). Octopuses achieve color change in part by chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores; all structures of the skin in increasing depth. Chromatophores are generally known as elastic pigmentsacs with muscle fibers attached letting them expand and contract. The leucophores are important because they allow for the reflection of white light and consequently allow the skin to reflect wavelengths of light which are prevalent in their habitat and produce disruptive patterns. The other aspect to cephalopod
Cephalopod
A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda . These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot...
camouflage is the brain which contains nerves coated in chromatophore fibers, controlling coloration patterning.
Distinctive features
It gets its name from the false eye spots under each real eye known as ocellus. In O.bimaculoides the ocellus is an iridescent blue chain link circle set in a circle of black.Life span
1 to 2 years. The end is signaled by egg laying in the female or senility in the male.Diet
ClamsCLaMS
CLaMS is a modular chemistry transport model system developed at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany. CLaMS was first described by McKenna et al. and was expanded into three dimensions by Konopka et al....
, mussels, small crabs, crayfish
Crayfish
Crayfish, crawfish, or crawdads – members of the superfamilies Astacoidea and Parastacoidea – are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters, to which they are related...
, snails. Hatchlings feed on amphipods or mysid shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
.