Octopus (genus)

Octopus
	Octopus vulgaris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Mollusca
Class:	Cephalopoda
Order:	Octopoda
Family:	Octopodidae
Subfamily:	Octopodinae
Genus:	Octopus; Cuvier, 1797
Type species
	Octopus vulgaris; Cuvier, 1797
Species
	Over 100, see text.

Octopus is the largest genus of octopuses, comprising about 100 species. These species are widespread throughout the world's oceans. Many species formerly placed in the genus Octopus are now assigned to other genera within the family. The octopus has 8 arms, averaging 20 cm (8 in) long for an adult.^[1]^[2]

Species

Octopus alatus Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus alecto Berry, 1953
Octopus araneoides * Iw. Taki, 1964 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus arborescens Hoyle, 1904 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus argus Krauss, 1848
Octopus australis Hoyle, 1885 – hammer octopus
Octopus balboai Voss, 1971
Octopus berenice Gray, 1849
Octopus berrima Stanks & Norman, 1992 – southern keeled octopus
Octopus bimaculatus Verrill, 1883 – California two-spot octopus or Verrill's two-spot octopus
Octopus bimaculoides Pickford & McConnaughey, 1949 – California two-spot octopus
Octopus bocki Adam, 1941 – Bock's pygmy octopus
Octopus briareus Robson, 1929 – Caribbean reef octopus
Octopus bulbus Norman, 2001
Octopus californicus Berry, 1911 – North Pacific bigeye octopus
Octopus campbelli Smith, 1902
Octopus chierchiae Jatta, 1889 – lesser Pacific striped octopus
Octopus conispadiceus Sasaki, 1917 – chestnut octopus
Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849 – big blue octopus or Cyane's octopus,
Octopus diminutus Kaneko & Kubodera, 2008^[3]
Octopus djinda Amor, 2021
Octopus favonius Gray, 1849
Octopus filamentosus Blainville, 1826 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus filosus Howell, 1867
Octopus fitchi Berry, 1953 – Fitch's pygmy octopus
Octopus fujitai Sasaki, 1929 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus gardineri Hoyle, 1905
Octopus globosus Appellöf, 1886 (taxon inquirendum) – globe octopus
Octopus gorgonus Huffard, 2007^[4]
Octopus harpedon Norman, 2001
Octopus hattai Sasaki, 1929
Octopus hawaiiensis Eydoux & Souleyet, 1852
Octopus hongkongensis Hoyle, 1885 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus hubbsorum Berry, 1953 – Hubb's octopus
Octopus humilis Huffard, 2007^[4]
Octopus hummelincki Adam, 1936 – bumblebee two-spot octopus or Caribbean two-spot octopus^[5]
Octopus huttoni Benham, 1943
Octopus incella Kaneko & Kubodera, 2007
Octopus insularis Leite & Haimovici, 2008^[6]
Octopus jeraldi Pratt, Baldwin & Vecchione, 2020^[7]
Octopus joubini Robson, 1929 - Atlantic pygmy octopus or small-egg Caribbean pygmy octopus
Octopus kaharoa O'Shea, 1999
Octopus kaurna Stranks, 1990 – southern sand octopus
Octopus kermedecensis Berry, 1914
Octopus laqueus Kaneko & Kubodera, 2005
Octopus longispadiceus Sasaki, 1917 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus mariles Huffard, 2007^[4]
Octopus maya Voss & Solís, 1966 – Mexican four-eyed octopus
Octopus mercatoris Adam, 1937
Octopus mernoo O'Shea, 1999
Octopus microphthalmus Goodrich, 1896
Octopus micropyrsus Berry, 1953 – California Lilliput octopus
Octopus micros Norman, 2001
Octopus mimus Gould, 1852
Octopus minor Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
- O. m. minor Sasaki, 1920 · accepted, alternate representation
Octopus mutilans Taki, 1942
Octopus nanhaiensis Dong, 1976 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus nanus Adam, 1973
Octopus niveus Lesson, 1831 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus occidentalis Steenstrup in Hoyle, 1885
Octopus ochotensis Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus oculifer Hoyle, 1904 – Galapagos reef octopus
Octopus oliveri Berry, 1914
Octopus oshimai Sasaki, 1929 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus pallidus Hoyle, 1885 – pale octopus
Octopus parvus Sasaki, 1917 – Japanese pygmy octopus
Octopus penicillifer Berry, 1954
Octopus pentherinus Rochebrune & Mabille, 1889 (nomen dubium)
Octopus prashadi Adam, 1939 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus pricei * Berry, 1913 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus pumilus Norman & Sweeney, 1997
Octopus pyrum Norman, Hochberg & Lu, 1997
Octopus rubescens Berry, 1953 – East Pacific red octopus
Octopus salutii Vérany, 1836 – spider octopus
Octopus sanctaehelenae Robson, 1929
Octopus sasakii Taki, 1942 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus selene Voss, 1971 – moon octopus
Octopus sinensis d'Orbigny, 1841 - East Asian Common octopus
Octopus stictochrus Voss, 1971
Octopus spinosus Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus superciliosus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832frilled pygmy octopus
Octopus tehuelchus d'Orbigny, 1834 – Tehuelche or Patagonian octopus
Octopus tenebricus Smith, 1884
Octopus tetricus Gould, 1852 – gloomy octopus or common Sydney octopus
Octopus tsugarensis Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus validus Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus veligero Berry, 1953 – veiled octopus
Octopus verrucosus Hoyle, 1885
Octopus vitiensis Hoyle, 1885 – bighead octopus
Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 – common octopus
Octopus warringa Stranks, 1990 – club pygmy octopus
Octopus wolfi Wülker, 1913 – star-sucker pygmy octopus
Octopus yendoi Sasaki, 1920 (taxon inquirendum)
Octopus zonatus Voss, 1968 – Atlantic banded octopus

The species listed above with an asterisk (*) are questionable and need further study to determine if they are valid species or synonyms.^[8]

Species brought into synonymy

List of synonyms in the genus Octopus

Octopus abaculus Norman & Sweeney, 1997: synonym of Abdopus abaculus (Norman & Sweeney, 1997)
Octopus aculeatus d'Orbigny, 1834: synonym of Abdopus aculeatus (d'Orbigny, 1834)
Octopus adamsi] Benham, 1944 : synonym of Octopus huttoni Benham, 1943
Octopus aegina Gray, 1849: synonym of Amphioctopus aegina (Gray, 1849)
Octopus albus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus alderii Vérany, 1851: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus alpheus, Capricorn night octopus: synonym of Callistoctopus alpheus (Norman, 1993)
Octopus alpheus Norman, 1993: synonym of Callistoctopus alpheus (Norman, 1993)
Octopus americanus Froriep, 1806: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus apollyon (S. S. Berry, 1912): synonym of Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)
Octopus arcticus Prosch, 1849: synonym of Bathypolypus arcticus (Prosch, 1849)
Octopus areolatus de Haan, 1839: synonym of Amphioctopus fangsiao (d'Orbigny, 1839)
Octopus aspilosomatis Norman, 1993, plain-body night octopus: synonym of Callistoctopus aspilosomatis (Norman, 1993)
Octopus bairdii Verrill, 1873: synonym of Bathypolypus bairdii (Verrill, 1873)
Octopus bakerii d'Orbigny, 1826: synonym of Octopus americanus Montfort, 1802: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus bermudensis Hoyle, 1885: synonym of Callistoctopus furvus (Gould, 1852)
Octopus bitentaculatus Risso, 1854: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus brevitentaculatus Blainville, 1826: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus brocki Ortmann, 1888: synonym of Amphioctopus fangsiao (d'Orbigny, 1839)
Octopus bunurong Stranks, 1990: synonym of Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990) – southern white-spot octopus
Octopus burryi Voss, 1950: synonym of Amphioctopus burryi (Voss, 1950)
Octopus carolinensis Verrill, 1884: synonym of Amphioctopus carolinensis (Verrill, 1884), Carolinian octopus
Octopus cassiopea Gray, 1849: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus cassiopeia Gray, 1849 (incorrect subsequent spelling of specific epithet): synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus catenulatus Philippi, 1844: synonym of Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814
Octopus chromatus Heilprin, 1888: synonym of Callistoctopus furvus (Gould, 1852)
Octopus cirrhosus Lamarck, 1798: synonym of Eledone cirrhosa (Lamarck, 1798)
Octopus cocco Risso, 1854: synonym of Scaeurgus unicirrhus (Delle Chiaje [in de Férussac & d'Orbigny], 1841)
Octopus cocco Vérany, 1846: synonym of Pteroctopus tetracirrhus (Delle Chiaje, 1830)
Octopus coerulescentes Fra Piero, 1895: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus communis Park, 1885: synonym of Macroctopus maorum (Hutton, 1880)
Octopus cuvieri d'Orbigny, 1826: synonym of Callistoctopus lechenaultii (d'Orbigny, 1826)
Octopus dana Robson, 1929: synonym of Macrotritopus defilippi (Vérany, 1851)
Octopus defilippi Vérany, 1851: synonym of Macrotritopus defilippi (Vérany, 1851) Atlantic longarm octopus or Lilliput longarm octopus
Octopus didynamus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus dierythraeus Norman, 1992: synonym of Callistoctopus dierythraeus (Norman, 1992) – red-spot night octopus
Octopus digueti Perrier & Rochebrune, 1894: synonym of Paroctopus digueti (Perrier & Rochebrune, 1894) – Diguet's pygmy octopus
Octopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910): synonym of Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)
Octopus dollfusi Robson, 1928: synonym of Amphioctopus aegina (Gray, 1849)
Octopus duplex Hoyle, 1885: synonym of Octopus superciliosus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832
Octopus equivocus Robson, 1929: synonym of Macrotritopus defilippi (Vérany, 1851)
Octopus ergasticus P. Fischer & H. Fischer, 1892: synonym of Bathypolypus ergasticus (P. Fischer & H. Fischer, 1892)
Octopus eudora Gray, 1849: synonym of Octopus americanus Montfort, 1802: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus exannulatus Norman, 1992: synonym of Amphioctopus exannulatus (Norman, 1992)
Octopus fangsiao d'Orbigny, 1839: synonym of Amphioctopus fangsiao (d'Orbigny, 1839)
Octopus fasciatus Hoyle, 1886: synonym of Hapalochlaena fasciata (Hoyle, 1886)
Octopus fimbriatus d'Orbigny, 1841: synonym of Abdopus horridus (d'Orbigny, 1826)
Octopus flindersi Cotton, 1932: synonym of Macroctopus maorum (Hutton, 1880)
Octopus fontanianus d'Orbigny, 1834: synonym of Robsonella fontaniana (d'Orbigny, 1834)
Octopus frayedus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus furvus Gould, 1852: synonym of Callistoctopus furvus (Gould, 1852)
Octopus geryonea Gray, 1849: synonym of Octopus americanus Montfort, 1802: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus gibbsi O'Shea, 1999: synonym of Octopus tetricus Gould, 1852
Octopus gilbertianus Berry, 1912: synonym of Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)
Octopus glaber Wülker, 1920: synonym of Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849
Octopus gracilis Verrill, 1884: synonym of Macrotritopus equivocus (Robson, 1929)
Octopus gracilis Eydoux & Souleyet, 1852: synonym of Tremoctopus gracilis (Eydoux & Souleyet, 1852)
Octopus granosus Blainville, 1826: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus granulatus Lamarck, 1799: synonym of Amphioctopus granulatus (Lamarck, 1799)
Octopus graptus Norman, 1992: synonym of Callistoctopus graptus (Norman, 1992) – scribbled night octopus
Octopus groenlandicus Steenstrup, 1856: synonym of Bathypolypus arcticus (Prosch, 1849)
Octopus guangdongensis Dong, 1976: synonym of Abdopus guangdongensis (Dong, 1976)
Octopus hardwickei Gray, 1849: synonym of Amphioctopus aegina (Gray, 1849)
Octopus harmandi Rochebrune, 1882: synonym of Abdopus aculeatus (d'Orbigny, 1834)
Octopus herdmani Hoyle, 1904: synonym of Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849
Octopus heteropus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus horridus d'Orbigny, 1826: synonym of Abdopus horridus (d'Orbigny, 1826)
Octopus horsti Joubin, 1898: synonym of Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849
Octopus hoylei (S. S. Berry, 1909): synonym of Pteroctopus hoylei (S. S. Berry, 1909)
Octopus indicus Rapp, 1835: synonym of Cistopus indicus (Rapp, 1835)
Octopus januarii Hoyle, 1885: synonym of Muusoctopus januarii (Hoyle, 1885)
Octopus kagoshimensis Ortmann, 1888: synonym of Amphioctopus kagoshimensis (Ortmann, 1888)
Octopus kempi Robson, 1929: synonym of Macrotritopus defilippi (Vérany, 1851)
Octopus kermadecensis (Berry, 1914): synonym of Callistoctopus kermadecensis (Berry, 1914)
Octopus koellikeri Vérany, 1851: synonym of Tremoctopus violaceus delle Chiaje, 1830
Octopus lechenaultii d'Orbigny, 1826: synonym of Callistoctopus lechenaultii (d'Orbigny, 1826)
Octopus leioderma (Berry, 1911): synonym of Benthoctopus leioderma (Berry, 1911)
Octopus lentus Verrill, 1880: synonym of Bathypolypus bairdii (Verrill, 1873)
Octopus leschenaultii d'Orbigny, 1826: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus leucoderma San Giovanni, 1829: synonym of Eledone leucoderma (San Giovanni, 1829)
Octopus lobensis Castellanos & Menni, 1969: synonym of Octopus tehuelchus d'Orbigny, 1834 – lobed octopus
Octopus lothei Chun, 1913: synonym of Bathypolypus ergasticus (P. Fischer & H. Fischer, 1892)
Octopus lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832: synonym of Hapalochlaena lunulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Octopus luteus (Sasaki, 1929): synonym of Callistoctopus luteus (Sasaki, 1929) – starry night octopus
Octopus macropodus Sangiovanni, 1829: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826)
Octopus macropus Risso, 1826: synonym of Callistoctopus macropus (Risso, 1826) – Atlantic white-spotted octopus
Octopus maculatus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus maculosus Hoyle, 1883: synonym of Hapalochlaena maculosa (Hoyle, 1883)
Octopus magnificus Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992: synonym of Enteroctopus magnificus (Villanueva, Sanchez & Compagno, 1992)
Octopus maorum Hutton, 1880: synonym of Macroctopus maorum (Hutton, 1880) – Maori octopus
Octopus marginatus Taki, 1964: synonym of Amphioctopus marginatus (Iw. Taki, 1964)
Octopus marmoratus Hoyle, 1885: synonym of Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849
Octopus membranaceus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832: synonym of Amphioctopus membranaceus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)
Octopus microstomus Reynaud, 1830: synonym of Tremoctopus violaceus delle Chiaje, 1830
Octopus moschatus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus moschatus Lamarck, 1798: synonym of Eledone moschata (Lamarck, 1798)
Octopus mototi Norman, 1992: synonym of Amphioctopus mototi (Norman, 1992)
Octopus neglectus Nateewathana & Norman, 1999: synonym of Amphioctopus neglectus (Nateewathana & Norman, 1999)
Octopus nierstraszi W. Adam, 1938: synonym of Hapalochlaena nierstraszi (W. Adam, 1938)
Octopus nierstrazi [sic]: synonym of Octopus nierstraszi W. Adam, 1938: synonym of Hapalochlaena nierstraszi (W. Adam, 1938)
Octopus niger Risso, 1854: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus niger Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus nocturnus Norman & Sweeney, 1997: synonym of Callistoctopus nocturnus (Norman & Sweeney, 1997)
Octopus obesus Verrill, 1880: synonym of Bathypolypus bairdii (Verrill, 1873)
Octopus ocellatus Gray, 1849: synonym of Amphioctopus fangsiao (d'Orbigny, 1839)
Octopus octopodia Tryon, 1879: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus ornatus Gould, 1852: synonym of Callistoctopus ornatus (Gould, 1852) – ornate octopus or white-striped octopus
Octopus ovulum Sasaki, 191: synonym of Amphioctopus ovulum (Sasaki, 1917)
Octopus rapanui Voss, 1979: synonym of Callistoctopus rapanui (Voss, 1979)
Octopus patagonicus Lönnberg, 1898: synonym of Enteroctopus megalocyathus (Gould, 1852)
Octopus pictus Brock, 1882: synonym of Hapalochlaena fasciata (Hoyle, 1886)
Octopus pictus Verrill, 1883: synonym of Octopus verrilli Hoyle, 1886
Octopus pilosus Risso, 1826: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus piscatorum Verrill, 1879: synonym of Bathypolypus bairdii (Verrill, 1873)
Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849: synonym of Amphioctopus polyzenia (Gray, 1849)
Octopus punctatus Gabb, 1862: synonym of Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)
Octopus pustulosus Sasaki, 1920: synonym of Octopus madokai Berry, 1921
Octopus rabassin Risso, 1854: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus reticularis Petangna, 1828: synonym of Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814
Octopus rex Nateewathana & Norman, 1999: synonym of Amphioctopus rex (Nateewathana & Norman, 1999)
Octopus robsoni Adam, 1941: synonym of Amphioctopus robsoni (Adam, 1941)
Octopus robustus Brock, 1887: synonym of Hapalochlaena fasciata (Hoyle, 1886)
Octopus roosevelti] Stuart, 1941: synonym of Octopus oculifer Hoyle, 1904
Octopus ruber Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus rufus Risso, 1854: synonym of Scaeurgus unicirrhus (Delle Chiaje [in de Férussac & d'Orbigny], 1841)
Octopus salebrosus Sasaki, 1920: synonym of Sasakiopus salebrosus (Sasaki, 1920)
Octopus saluzzii Naef, 1923: synonym of Octopus salutii Vérany, 1836
Octopus saluzzii Vérany, 1840: synonym of Octopus salutii Vérany, 1836
Octopus scorpio (Berry, 1920): synonym of Macrotritopus defilippi (Vérany, 1851)
Octopus semipalmatus Owen, 1836: synonym of Tremoctopus violaceus delle Chiaje, 1830
Octopus siamensis Nateewathana & Norman, 1999: synonym of Amphioctopus siamensis (Nateewathana & Norman, 1999)
Octopus smedleyi Robson, 1932: synonym of Amphioctopus aegina (Gray, 1849)
Octopus sponsalis Fischer & Fischer, 1892: synonym of Bathypolypus sponsalis (P. Fischer & H. Fischer, 1892)
Octopus striolatus Dong, 1976: synonym of Amphioctopus marginatus (Iw. Taki, 1964)
Octopus taprobanensis Robson, 1926: synonym of Callistoctopus taprobanensis (Robson, 1926)
Octopus tenuicirrus Sasaki, 1929: synonym of Octopus hongkongensis Hoyle, 1885
Octopus tetracirrhus Delle Chiaje, 1830: synonym of Pteroctopus tetracirrhus (Delle Chiaje, 1830)
Octopus tetradynamus Rafinesque, 1814: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus titanotus Troschel, 1857: synonym of Pteroctopus tetracirrhus (Delle Chiaje, 1830)
Octopus tonganus Hoyle, 1885: synonym of Abdopus tonganus (Hoyle, 1885)
Octopus tritentaculatus Risso, 1854: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus troscheli Targioni-Tozzetti, 1869: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus troschelii Targioni-Tozzetti, 1869: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus tuberculatus Risso, 1854: synonym of Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814
Octopus tuberculatus Targioni-Tozzetti, 1869: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus tuberculatus de Blainville, 1826: synonym of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797
Octopus unicirrhus Delle Chiaje [in de Férussac & d'Orbigny], 1841: synonym of Scaeurgus unicirrhus (Delle Chiaje [in de Férussac & d'Orbigny], 1841)
Octopus varunae Oommen, 1971: synonym of Amphioctopus varunae (Oommen, 1971)
Octopus velatus Rang, 1837: synonym of Tremoctopus violaceus delle Chiaje, 1830
Octopus velifer de Férussac, 1835: synonym of Tremoctopus violaceus delle Chiaje, 1830
Octopus veranyi Wagner, 1829: synonym of Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814
Octopus vincenti Pickford, 1955: synonym of Amphioctopus burryi (Voss, 1950)
Octopus violaceus Risso, 1854: synonym of Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814
Octopus westerniensis d'Orbigny, 1834: synonym of Octopus superciliosus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832
Octopus winckworthi Robson, 1926: synonym of Macrochlaena winckworthi (Robson, 1926)