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EspañolSEVEN-ARM OCTOPUS
The 'Seven-arm Octopus' (''Haliphron atlanticus'') is the largest known species of octopus based on scientific records, with a total estimated length of 4 m and weight of 75 kg.[1][2] However, there have been disputed claims of even larger octopuses of the species ''Enteroctopus dofleini''.
| Contents |
| Description |
| See also |
| References |
| Further reading |
| External links |
Description
The Seven-arm Octopus is so named because in males the hectocotylus (a specially modified arm used in egg fertilization) is coiled in a sac beneath the right eye. Due to this species' thick gelatinous tissue, it is easily overlooked, giving the appearance of just seven arms.
In 2002, a single specimen of giant proportions was caught by fisheries trawling off the eastern Chatham Rise, New Zealand. This specimen, the largest of this species and of all octopuses, was the first validated record of ''Haliphron'' from the South Pacific. It had a mantle length of 0.69 m, total length of 2.90 m, and weight of 61.0 kg, although it was incomplete.
The type specimen of ''H. atlanticus'' was collected in the Atlantic Ocean at 38°N 34°W. It is deposited at the Kobenhavns Universitet, Zoologisk Museum in Copenhagen.[3]
The genera ''Alloposina'' Grimpe, 1922, ''Alloposus'' Verrill, 1880 and ''Heptapus'' Joubin, 1929 are junior synonyms of ''Haliphron''.
See also
★ North Pacific Giant Octopus (''Enteroctopus dofleini'')
★ Cephalopod size
References
1. O'Shea, S. 2004. The giant octopus ''Haliphron atlanticus'' (Mollusca : Octopoda) in New Zealand waters. ''New Zealand Journal of Zoology'' '31'(1): 7-13.
2. O'Shea, S. 2002. ''Haliphron atlanticus'' — a giant gelatinous octopus. ''Biodiversity Update'' '5': 1.
3. Current Classification of Recent Cephalopoda
Further reading
★ Bakken, T. & T. Holthe 2002. ''Haliphron atlanticum'' (Cephalopoda, Alloposidae) caught in Skorafjorden (64°N), Norway. ''Fauna norv.'' '22': 37-38.
★ Willassen, E. 1986. ''Haliphron atlanticus'' Steenstrup (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) from the coast of Norway. ''Sarsia'' '71': 35-40.
External links
★ Tree of Life web project: ''Haliphron atlanticus''
★ The giant octopus ''Haliphron atlanticus'' (Mollusca: Octopoda) in New Zealand waters
★ BBC News: Giant octopus puzzles scientists
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