Biodiversity & Conservation

North Atlantic octopus - Bathypolypus arcticus - General information

Bathypolypus arcticus

Image - Line drawing of Bathypolypus arcticus.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

Bathypolypus arcticus recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Bathypolypus arcticus?
If so please submit your record.

Bathypolypus arcticus is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Emily Wilson Text page icon Refereed by:

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Mollusca Snails, slugs, mussels, cockles, clams & squid
Class Cephalopoda Cuttlefish, nautilus, octopus & squid
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland All British and Irish coasts.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Most frequently found on sandy and muddy bottoms but they must move to rocky areas to spawn.
Text page icon Description Bathypolypus arcticus is a squat, short-armed octopus between 6-10 cm in length, that lacks an ink sac.

This review can be cited as follows:

Emily Wilson 2006. Bathypolypus arcticus. North Atlantic octopus. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 03/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=2736>