Giant octopus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant octopuses |
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| A North Pacific Giant Octopus at a depth of 65 metres | |
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Octopodidae
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Octopodinae
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Enteroctopus
Rochebrune & Mabille, 1889
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| Were Giant Octopi live, E. dofleini in blue, E. megalocyathus in red, E. magnificus in yellow, and E. zealandicus in purple. | |
The Giant octopus is a type of octopus from the Enteroctopus group. One of its species is known for being the largest octopus in the world! There are four main types, or species, in this group. These include the North Pacific Giant Octopus (E. dofleini), the Southern Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus magnificus), E. megalocyathus, and E. zealandicus.
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What Makes an Octopus "Giant"?
When we talk about a "Giant octopus," we usually mean the North Pacific Giant Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini). This amazing creature holds the record for being the biggest octopus on Earth. Scientists have measured live ones that weighed as much as 71 kilograms (about 156 pounds)! That's like carrying two big bags of dog food.
How Big Can They Get?
The North Pacific Giant Octopus can also be very long. Some have been measured at nearly 4 meters (about 13 feet) from the tip of one arm to the tip of another. Imagine an octopus as long as a small car!
Other Giant Octopus Species
While the North Pacific Giant Octopus is the biggest, the other members of the Enteroctopus group are also quite large. They are just not as massive as their record-holding cousin.
E. megalocyathus
For example, E. megalocyathus is much smaller than the North Pacific Giant Octopus. It typically weighs around 4 kilograms (about 9 pounds). Its total length is usually about 1 meter (around 3 feet).
E. magnificus
Another species, E. magnificus, can reach a total length of about 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet). While still impressive, it's not quite as enormous as the North Pacific Giant Octopus.
Images for kids
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Range map of Enteroctopus species. E. dofleini in blue, E. megalocyathus in red, E. magnificus in yellow, and E. zealandicus in purple.
