Biodiversity & Conservation

Common octopus - Octopus vulgaris - Taxonomy and identification

Octopus vulgaris

Image David Nicholson - Octopus vulgaris.
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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.

Taxonomy identification

Dictionary Icon Taxon Dictionary icon Latin English equivalent or translation
Phylum Mollusca - Snails, slugs, mussels, cockles, clams & squid
Class Cephalopoda - Snails, slugs, mussels, cockles, clams & squid
Order Octopoda
Family Octopodidae
Genus Octopus
Authority: Cuvier, 1797 Synonyms: (since 1950) None

Key Icon Identifying features

  • Medium to large sized, body distinctly warty.
  • Arms stout of about equal length and thickness with two longitudinal rows of suckers, dorsal pair of arms slightly shorter.
  • Colour - variable, grey-yellow-brown-green according to situation.

Additional information icon Additional information

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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/taxonomyidentification.php?speciesID=3937>