| Gould octopus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Octopodidae |
| Genus: | Octopus |
| Species: | O. mimus |
| Binomial name | |
| Octopus mimus Gould, 1852 | |
Octopus mimus (Gould octopus) is commonly found between northern Peru and northern Chile. The species is relatively large with a round sacciform mantle without fins. The tentacles are moderately large, approximately 4 times longer than the mantle. The 3rd tentacle on the right holds the short, thin copulatory organ in males. The color ranges, with individuals commonly speckled a mix of gray, yellow, black, green. It is primarily benthic, living in rocky substrates and kelp forests until depths of 200 m. The species is dicecious, breeding throughout the year with one or two peaks depending on the latitude. After mating the female cares for the eggs letting her body deteriorate until death. This animal grows up to 115 cm in length and 3.7 kg in females and 107 cm in length and 4.4 kg in males. Juveniles can double in size every 30 to 60 days. The Gould octopus is an opportunistic predator feeding primarily on crustaceans, mollusks, fish, and echinoderms. This species is commonly fished in Peru and Chile. Semi-Moist diets provide the best growth efficiency for the octopus mimus while also being feasibly sustainable.
References
- Tresierra, A., P. Ramirez, S. Alfaro, S. Campos & L. De Lucio. 2009. Catalogo de Invertebrados Marinos de La Región La Libertad. Inst. Mar del Peru. 114 pp.
- ^ Cardoso, Franz; Villegas, Piero; Estrella, Carlota (July 2004). "Observaciones sobre la biología de Octopus mimus (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) en la costa peruana" [Observations about the biology of Octopus mimus (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) in the Peruvian coast]. Revista Peruana de Biología (in Spanish). 11 (1): 45–50. doi:10.15381/rpb.v11i1.2432.
- ^ Zúñiga, Oscar; Olivares Paz, Alberto; Torres, Ingrid (November 2011). "Evaluación del crecimiento del pulpo común Octopus mimus del norte de Chile alimentado con dietas formuladas" [Growth evaluation of octopus (Octopus mimus) from northern Chile fed with formulated diets]. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research (in Spanish). 39 (3): 584–592. Bibcode:2011LAJAR..39..584Z. doi:10.3856/vol39-issue3-fulltext-18.
- ^ Cortez, Tito; González, Angel F; Guerra, Angel (August 1999). "Growth of Octopus mimus (Cephalopoda, Octopodidae) in wild populations". Fisheries Research. 42 (1–2): 31–39. Bibcode:1999FishR..42...31C. doi:10.1016/S0165-7836(99)00040-5.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Octopus mimus | |
Méndez-Abarca F. & R. Pepe-Victoriano (2020) Invertebrados marinos del norte de Chile: guía para la identificación y mantención en cautiverio. Vol. ll. Fundación Reino Animal & ONG por la conservación de la vida salvaje. Arica, Chile. 1-85 pp.
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