Biodiversity & Conservation

Common octopus - Octopus vulgaris - Habitat preferences and distribution

Octopus vulgaris

Image David Nicholson - Octopus vulgaris.
Image copyright information

Distribution map

Octopus vulgaris 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 Octopus vulgaris?
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Octopus vulgaris is not listed under any importance categories.

Map icon Distribution

Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland (click for map) Reaches its north-eastern limit in south-western Britain and the western English Channel.
Global distribution Worldwide in temperate and tropical waters.

Habitat information icon Habitat preferences

Physiographic preferences Open coast
Biological zone preferences Sublittoral Fringe
Upper Infralittoral
Lower Infralittoral
Upper Circalittoral
Lower Circalittoral
Substratum / habitat preferences Bedrock
Large to very large boulders
Small boulders
Cobbles
Pebbles
Coarse clean sand
Fine clean sand
Sandy mud
Muddy sand
Mud
Tidal strength preferences No information found
Wave exposure preferences Data deficient
Salinity preferences Full (30-40 psu)
Depth range 0-200m
Other preferences No text entered
Migration Pattern Seasonal (reproduction)
Active
Is the species native?

This review can be cited as follows:

Emily Wilson 2006. Octopus vulgaris. Common octopus. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 11/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/specieshabitats.php?speciesID=3937>