Southern white-spot octopus

The southern white-spot octopus (Callistoctopus bunurong) is a species of octopus in the family Octopodidae,[1] that can be found in Australia waters, at depths from 1 to 130 meters[2] on sandy substrates.[3] It was originally placed in the genus Octopus, having the scientific name Octopus bunurong, but has been moved to the genus Callistoctopus.[1][3]

Southern white-spotted octopus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Mollusca
Class:
Cephalopoda
Order:
Octopoda
Family:
Octopodidae
Genus:
Callistoctopus
Species:
C. bunurong
Binomial name
Callistoctopus bunurong
(Stranks, 1990)
Synonyms

Octopus bunurong Stranks, 1990

Description

Its shape is similar to an oval, containing long arms with narrow tips. Its coloration is red, orange, and white, with white spots covering all of the body, and transverse bands of smaller white spots along the arms of it. A white coloration of skin extends along the mantle on each side, and the size of the mantle can grow up to 48 cm in length. The webs of it are short, almost being transparent.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Its range is in Australia, of coasts of Western Australia, Southern Australia, and Victoria. It lives at depths from 1 to 130 meters, buries in sand and seagrass areas, and comes out at night to feed.[2][3]

Behavior

This octopus has the ability to dig into the sand quickly if in danger. The females of C. bunurong lay eggs that can develop well into young, and then settle to the seafloor after they have hatched. At night it spends time outside of the sand searching for small crustaceans to eat.[3]

Conservation

There are no specific threats to this species, and has been listed as a least concern species due to it having a wide range, but further research is needed to know more about its population size, life history and ecology.[2]

References
  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990)". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  2. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
  3. "Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990), Southern White-spot Octopus". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
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