The Giant Pacific octopus facts for kids is an amazing collection of some of the most interesting facts about Giant Pacific octopus. Giant pacific octopus (Enteroctopus Dofleini) is a long-lived and large cephalopod. It is a very smart creature and can mimic other species and even patterned rocks.
Giant Pacific Octopus Facts for Kids
Giant pacific octopus has fat and round-shaped head. The color of this octopus is reddish-brown. However, like other octopus species, it can also change the texture as well as the color of its skin thanks to the pigment cells on its skin. This way, these octopuses blend with the reef or rocky background.
The arm span of a giant pacific octopus can grow up to 14 feet. It weighs around 33 pounds. The larger octopuses have a span of 20 feet and weigh up to 110 pounds. However, the size of the largest giant pacific octopus was recorded at 30 feet across and weigh up to 600 pounds. The size of a hatchling is not more than a grain of rice.
It is a long-lived octopus. The average lifespan of this octopus is 3 to 5 years.
Giant pacific o
ctopus lays from 120,000 to 400,000 eggs. The female octopus does not eat anything while nurturing her eggs. As soon as the eggs are hatched, the parents die. The eggs are hatched after 6 months.
These octopuses are distributed across the coastal temperate waters of the North Pacific. They are present from southern California, Washington and all the way up to Alaska. They are also found in Aleutian Islands, Russia, Korea and northern Japan.
Giant pacific octopus is a carnivore and it has strong beak-like mouths. It feeds mainly on fish, lobsters, shrimp, ear shells, scallop and clams. In captivity, these octopuses are found to eat spiny dogfish. Occasionally, they also feed on small sharks and even birds.
The eggs of this octopus are eaten by many filter-feeding animals. The predators for the adult giant pacific are sea otters, common seals and sperm whales. Besides, among sharks, the great white and the pacific sleeper shark usually prey on these octopuses.
Other Name: North Pacific Giant octopus
