Yellow octopus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yellow octopus |
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| Enteroctopus zealandicus. Photo by Darren Stevens, NIWA | |
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The yellow octopus (scientific name: Enteroctopus zealandicus) is a very large type of octopus. It belongs to the Enteroctopus family, which includes some of the biggest octopuses in the world. This special octopus lives only in the waters around New Zealand. When we say it's "endemic" to New Zealand, it means you won't find it naturally anywhere else on Earth!
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What Does the Yellow Octopus Look Like?
The yellow octopus has features that are common to all octopuses in the Enteroctopus group. It has special folds that run along its body. It also has large, paddle-like bumps called papillae on its skin. These papillae can help it blend in with its surroundings.
This octopus is quite big! It can grow to be at least 1.4 meters (about 4.6 feet) long. That's longer than many people are tall! However, scientists haven't found many complete yellow octopuses. So, this size is just an estimate based on what they have seen.
Where Does the Yellow Octopus Live?
As mentioned, the yellow octopus is found only in the waters around New Zealand. Scientists have found samples of this octopus in several places. These include the east coast of the South Island, the Chatham Rise, and the Campbell Plateau. They have also been found near Stewart, Auckland, and Antipodes Islands.
The yellow octopus lives in the ocean from the surface all the way down to 530 meters (about 1,740 feet) deep. That's like diving deeper than the height of the Empire State Building! Even with these findings, scientists still don't know much about where this octopus prefers to live. They also don't know what its favorite foods are.
Who Hunts the Yellow Octopus?
The yellow octopus is an important food source for other animals. It is a main part of the diet for New Zealand sea lions. These sea lions hunt the yellow octopus around the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. These islands are part of the New Zealand Subantarctic region. This area is a group of islands south of New Zealand.
Scientists have also found signs of yellow octopuses inside whales. When whales wash up on beaches, researchers sometimes examine them. They have discovered parts of yellow octopuses, like their beaks, inside the stomachs of these whales. This shows that whales also hunt and eat the yellow octopus.
Images for kids
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Enteroctopus zealandicus. Photo by Darren Stevens, NIWA
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Range of Enteroctopus zealandicus
