Tuberculate Pelagic Octopus
Encyclopedia
The Tuberculate Pelagic Octopus (Ocythoe tuberculata), also known as the Football Octopus, is a pelagic species that is found in warm and temperate seas, especially in the northern hemisphere
. It is the only known species
in the family Ocythoidae.
The females are around a metre long when full-grown. The males are considerably smaller at around 10 cm.
As a species, they are unique among cephalopod
s in possessing a true gas bladder
. They are also one of the only known ovoviviparous
cephalopod species. It is relatively unresearched in terms of behaviour and life-cycle.
Young females and mature males have been observed residing inside salp
s, although little is known about this relationship.
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
. It is the only known species
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
in the family Ocythoidae.
The females are around a metre long when full-grown. The males are considerably smaller at around 10 cm.
As a species, they are unique among 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...
s in possessing a true gas bladder
Gas bladder
The swim bladder, gas bladder, fish maw or air bladder is an internal gas-filled organ that contributes to the ability of a fish to control its buoyancy, and thus to stay at the current water depth without having to waste energy in swimming...
. They are also one of the only known ovoviviparous
Ovoviviparity
Ovoviviparity, ovovivipary, or ovivipary, is a mode of reproduction in animals in which embryos develop inside eggs that are retained within the mother's body until they are ready to hatch...
cephalopod species. It is relatively unresearched in terms of behaviour and life-cycle.
Young females and mature males have been observed residing inside salp
Salp
A salp or salpa is a barrel-shaped, planktonic tunicate. It moves by contracting, thus pumping water through its gelatinous body...
s, although little is known about this relationship.