The Atlantic dwarf octopus (pygmy octopus) belongs to the world of amazing marine creatures that develop in ways that differ from other land animals, and are considered among the smartest creatures that possess distinctive methods that help them survive.
Perhaps the most prominent feature of this octopus is its high ability to rapidly change the color and pattern of its skin. It resorts to this in order to hide in its marine environment and adapt to the patterns surrounding it, which protects it from exposure to enemies.
Let’s dive into the details in today’s article from Teke Trek.
An introduction to the Atlantic octopus
The Atlantic pygmy octopus, also known as the small-egg Caribbean pygmy octopus, is found in the warm temperate to tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Cayman Islands are a common location where this species is found. In addition to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, it also prefers smooth surfaces with a depth of 10 to 15 meters.
This octopus is known to be a marine creature that suffers from pollution, and as a result it seeks to settle in places where the water is clear. It should be noted that it has been scientifically classified by researchers according to the following:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Molluscs
Order: octopuses
Class: Cephalopods
Species: Gobini octopus
Suborder: Inserina
What are the characteristics of the Atlantic dwarf octopus?
The Atlantic dwarf octopus is distinguished from other marine creatures by its unique appearance that combines beauty and complexity. Below we will provide a detailed description of its appearance:
The dwarf octopus that lives in the Atlantic Ocean has a small, curvy body and smooth skin with scattered small pimples.
The length of the Atlantic dwarf octopus ranges between 5 and 15 cm, while its weight is 1 ounce.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus is known for its white to tan body color.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus has brown spots and markings.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus has 8 long, thin arms, each of which contains a set of small blades that help it grip prey. They are about 9 cm long.
The head of the Atlantic dwarf octopus contains 9 brains that help it think and control its movements accurately and perfectly.
Each arm of the Atlantic dwarf octopus ends with several prongs that are used for clinging and attaching to surfaces and other objects.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus has large eyes that contain black spots, which are a major part of its unique vision system.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus is known for its many colors, ranging from white, blue, red and orange, thanks to its ability to camouflage itself and adapt to the environment in which it is found.
The legula, one of the arms, has been modified to form a male sex organ.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus, like other octopuses, has 3 hearts, two of which pump blood to the gills, and the third to pump blood to the rest of the body.
The speed of the Atlantic dwarf octopus reaches 40 kilometers per hour.
We note from what we mentioned previously that the Caribbean dwarf octopus is a beautiful and amazing marine creature, which with its distinctive details takes you to the world of creativity and mastery.
Reproduction stages of the Atlantic dwarf octopus
Firstly, it must be noted that the reproductive process between the male Atlantic pygmy octopus and the female takes place remotely without physical contact, as the mating season for the Atlantic pygmy octopus (Atlantic pygmy octopus) begins during the months of March and April, when the male passes his sperm to the female via The way the spermatophore places it in the female’s mantle cavity using special arms.
The spermatophore evaporates into the female’s oviduct, where it releases it. The male usually keeps this spermatophore in the female until the process is complete.
But in this case he cannot, because fertilization takes a long time.
The eggs are about 6-8 mm long and are laid by the female 4.5 months after hatching. They die shortly after the incubation period of 30-45 days.
The young go through a short plankton stage, which remains close to the surface of the water for about the first 2.3 days and then disperses. The weight of the young reaches approximately 2.9 mg.
It should be noted that the mortality rate among them is high during the first week and becomes stable after that.
By the third week, the young are subjected to intensive nutrition and rapid growth. Their weight sometimes doubles or even triples, and then they move from the planktonic stage to become completely independent.
The actual reproduction time of the Atlantic dwarf octopus is short, reaching only 5 minutes, compared to other species, which have a mating period of 2-3 hours.
As a result of this and the small size of the Atlantic dwarf octopus, it is vulnerable to many predators. It should be noted that the age at which this octopus begins to mate is approximately 6 months.
What is the diet of the Atlantic dwarf octopus?
The Atlantic dwarf octopus is a carnivore, and its diet depends on crustaceans or piercing the hard shells of small oysters or other marine creatures. It uses a small, barbed, tongue-like structure that creates holes in the shell of the prey, then secretes toxic saliva to immobilize the victim.
This octopus prefers to eat crabs more than snails. It spends a long time removing the snails from the shells before eating them, but it can eat the crab in less than a minute.
Many studies have also recorded a group of species as its prey in the wild.
It should be noted that this diet is expanded in laboratory conditions.
The most prominent advantages of the Atlantic dwarf octopus:
The dwarf octopus that lives in the Atlantic Ocean is a small marine creature that is resourceful at hiding. As a result, it is difficult to find. It uses empty shells and small holes to hide, then covers the entrance by adding sand and gravel, and uses arms to close the shells.
The Atlantic dwarf octopus is a very social creature that loves to have fun and possesses a great deal of intelligence and strong vision. It can see a diver before they see them, or at least then, in addition to possessing techniques for solving problems when exposed to danger within an imperfect habitat environment.
FAQs about the Atlantic dwarf octopus
Does the Atlantic dwarf octopus pose a danger to humans?
No, this octopus does not pose any danger to humans and does not contain strong toxins.
What are the most important threats facing the survival of the Atlantic pygmy octopus?
Water pollution and loss of its habitat are two of the greatest threats to the survival of the Atlantic dwarf octopus, and it can be protected by monitoring the ocean and preserving its habitat.
How does the Atlantic dwarf octopus protect itself from predators?
The Atlantic dwarf octopus can protect itself by using strategies such as changing its color and moving quickly.
At what temperature does the Atlantic dwarf octopus thrive?
This octopus thrives at temperatures between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius.
How big do dwarf octopuses get؟
The size of the dwarf octopus is about 1.8 inches.
What do Atlantic octopus eat?
The Atlantic octopus eats carbohydrates, oysters, shrimp, and snails.
With this, we have reached the conclusion of this article in which we talked about the most important details about the Atlantic dwarf octopus, which is considered an amazing creature in the world of marine creatures because of its unique characteristics that make it distinct from other creatures
