As the name suggests, the California two-spot octopus has two false eye spots
This month we are showcasing photographs with the theme of “Light”. This California two-spot octopus was hiding in the dark canopy of the kelp forest. This photograph is from Catalina Island, off the coast of California. We encountered this octopus in about 50 feet of water. At these depths, not a lot of natural light makes it through, especially in a kelp forest. At these depths, you can see without a flashlight. However, photography at these depths requires lighting. In this case, I used two underwater strobes. The key is to aim these strobes appropriately. The other key is to anticipate only having one opportunity to get the photo. Some underwater creatures are more startled by flash photography than others.
As the name suggests, this octopus has two false eye spots. These are neon blue in color. They are located just below where the actual eye is.
For size reference, the mantle of this octopus is about six inches long. The mantle of an octopus is the bulbous structure just under the eyes in this photo.
Many organs are located inside the mantle including its hearts, digestive system, reproductive glands, and gills. Yes, you read that correctly, “hearts”. The California two-spot octopus has three hearts. Two transport blood to the gills and one that moves blood throughout the rest of its body. The arms of this octopus are about two feet long. The coloration can vary significantly, but generally includes brown, yellow, and gray. The octopus in this photo is displaying mostly yellow and orange.
The lifecycle of these creatures is amazing. Once they hatch from their egg, they will only live for one to two years. This short lifespan is not unique to this octopus species, most octopus are short-lived. California two-spot octopus are capable of hunting and independent survival right from day one. California two-spot octopus only mate one time in their life, this is called “semelparous”. However, a female can lay as many as 70,000 eggs from this one mating sequence! After 150-210 days, the eggs will hatch and the next generation will begin life.
It is no secret that octopus are intelligent. A recent study showed that they can recognize human faces and the differences between individuals. In this study, octopus were able to recall individual human faces that they had not seen for a while. We continue to learn more and more about how intelligent these wild creatures are.
The lifecycle of these creatures is amazing
Did you know?
- California two-spot octopus can regrow an arm if they happen to lose it.
- There are more than 300 species of octopuses! They can be found in every ocean on earth.
- The ink that octopus use as a defense mechanism is made of melanin.
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