Cirroctopus hochbergi

Cirroctopus hochbergi (common name: four-blotched umbrella octopus[3]) is a cirrate octopus living between 800 and 1,070 meters deep off the coast of New Zealand. The species is known from 48 specimens.[4] It is most similar to its sister taxon, Cirroctopus mawsoni;[1] however, C. mawsoni's ventral pigmentation is lighter, and the two species have been found in very different areas (C. mawsoni is only known in waters near Antarctica).[4][5]

Cirroctopus hochbergi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Cirroctopodidae
Genus: Cirroctopus
Species:
C. hochbergi
Binomial name
Cirroctopus hochbergi
O'Shea, 1999[2]

This octopus lives near cold seeps and seamounts.[5] It is theorized that it and all other cirrate octopuses live in the demersal zone.[1]

Threats

While C. hochbergi is not used by humans, it's often taken as bycatch. One of the greatest threats to the species is trawling, which damages its habitat. There are an estimated 250 to 1,000 mature individuals. C. hochbergi's population is currently decreasing,[1] and it may be locally extinct in areas where it once was common.[5]

Like other cirrates, it has a long lifespan and grows slowly, which could make it hard for the species to recover from declines in the population.[1]

References
  1. Lyons, G; Allcock, L (2014). "Cirroctopus hochbergi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T163337A999635.
  2. van der Land, Jacob; Bouchet, Philippe. "Cirroctopus hochbergi". World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. Freeman, DJ; Marshall, BA; Ahyong, ST; Wing, SR; Hitchmough, RA (2009). "Conservation status of New Zealand marine invertebrates". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 44 (3): 129–148. doi:10.1080/00288330.2010.495373. .... the four-blotched umbrella octopus Cirroctopus hochbergi...
  4. Young, Richard; Vecchione, Michael; O'Shea, Steve. "Cirroctopus hochbergi". Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  5. "Annual distribution of the four-blotched umbrella octopus lineage" (PDF). National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System. Retrieved 2 April 2018.


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