Biology:Hairy octopus

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Short description: Undescribed species of octopus

Hairy octopus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Subfamily: Octopodinae
Genus: Octopus
Species:
O. sp. 16
Binomial name
Octopus sp. 16
Norman, 2000

The hairy octopus (Octopus sp. 16) is an undescribed octopus species found in parts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, such as north Sulawesi Island, the Lembeh Strait, Bali, Indonesia[1] and Japan.[2] They are identified by the heavily textured skin giving it a "hairy" appearance. Little is known about this species and a binomial name has not been provided.[3]

Description

The hairy octopus has a total length of 2 inches (5 cm) and a weight of 5 grams.[4]

With the use of chromatophores, colour changing skin cells, the octopus can range from white, cream, brown and red, with or without patterns such as spots.[5]

This octopus is usually heavily textured with the use of papillae, skin structures that expand and contract into various sizes to form texture. The hairy octopus has very fine hair-like papillae compared to other octopus such as the algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus), a species with large, spiky papillae.[6] According to marine biologist Mark Norman, the papillae allow them to mimic the appearance of seaweed in their environment.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The hairy octopus is found in shallow coral reefs and seagrass beds[1] with sediments such as shell fragments and pebbles at a depth of 2 to 20 m (6 ft 7 in to 65 ft 7 in) in parts of the Indo-Pacific.[8] It is active during the day.[7]

Ecology and behaviour

It is seen to frequently change the colour of their skin around their eyes which is often almost white.[9] While the reason is unknown, it could be to stun prey, intimidate predators or act as a disruptive eye mask.[5]

While the octopus can use its siphon to propel itself quickly through the water, it waits for the current to flow in its desired direction before riding it to the next location. This maintains its camouflage and conserves energy.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Hairy Octopus". 6 July 2023. https://www.americanoceans.org/species/hairy-octopus/. 
  2. ↑ Huffard, Christine (2007). "Four New Species of Shallow Water Pygmy Octopus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from the Kingdom of Tonga". Molluscan Research 27 (3). doi:10.11646/mr.27.3.5. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/263083845. 
  3. ↑ Judson, Olivia (November 2016). "The Power of Eight". National Geographic 230 (5): 62–81. ISSN 0027-9358. "The hairy octopus, a creature yet to be scientifically described, has evolved a permanently wispy look and is hard to tell apart from a scrap of red algae.". 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Montgomery, Sy; Carlyle, Warren (2024). Secrets of the Octopus. Washington, DC: National Geographic. pp. 174–175. ISBN 9781426224232. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Staaf, Danna (2023). The Lives of Octopuses and Their Relatives: A Natural History of Cephalopods. Princeton: Princeton University Press. pp. 98–99. ISBN 978-0-691-25233-9. 
  6. ↑ Allen, Justin; Mathger, Lydia; Barbosa, Alexandra; Hanlon, Roger (18 March 2009). "Cuttlefish Use Visual Cues to Control Three-dimensional Skin Papillae for Camouflage". Journal of Comparative Physiology 195 (6): 554. doi:10.1007/s00359-009-0430-y. PMID 19294390. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00359-009-0430-y. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Norman, Mark (2003). Cephalopods: A World Guide (2. rev. ed.). Hackenheim: Conch Books. pp. 44–46. ISBN 9783925919329.  Cited in: Nehaniv, Chrystopher L.; Dautenhahn, Kerstin (April 9, 2009) (in en). Imitation and Social Learning in Robots, Humans and Animals: Behavioural, Social and Communicative Dimensions. Cambridge University Press. pp. 446–447. ISBN 978-1-139-46195-5. https://books.google.com/books?id=Kn6-kOisATQC&dq=%2522Cephalopods%2522+%2522hairy+octopus%2522&pg=PA446. 
  8. ↑ Colombo, Marco; Tomasinelli, Francesco. Sea Wonders. pp. 114. ISBN 978-1-7972-3314-7. 
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Sea Wonders
  • Photo: "Featured Photographer: Aniek Stevense". 19 September 2025. https://divemagazine.com/underwater-photography/featured-photographer/aniek-stevense. 
  • Video: The Hairy Octopus. OctoNation - The Largest Octopus Fan Club!. Jun 16, 2021 – via YouTube.
  • Video: "¿Habías visto alguna vez un pulpo peludo?". Europa Press. 8 June 2020. https://www.europapress.es/desconecta/animalparty/noticia-habias-visto-alguna-vez-pulpo-peludo-20200608105315.html. 

Wikidata ☰ Q137719203 entry



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