The Giant Pacific Octopus has one of the most extended lifespans of any octopus species, living from three to five years. Its mouth has a beak made of keratin (fingernails, hair, and rhinoceros horns are also made of keratin), which it uses to kill prey and chew it up into pieces before swallowing. It has a bulb-shaped body, and its mouth is on its underside, where its arms come together. Since octopuses are mollusks and don’t have outer shells, they use their camouflage abilities to blend into their surroundings and stay safe. The mantle houses the octopus’s organs, including the kidneys, liver, stomach, gills, reproductive organs, intestine, and brain. Females have a total of 2,240 suckers males have about 100 fewer suckers than their female counterparts. Each of the octopus’s eight arms has two rows of suckers. The giant Pacific octopus stands are typically a reddish-brown color with massive bulbous heads and a mantle. How big they grow depends on the availability of light, nutrients, and temperature in their habitats. Female giant Pacific octopuses are generally larger than males. It grows to its largest size when living in the North Pacific’s colder waters and tends to be smaller when living in warmer waters.Īlthough they are large animals, octopuses can squeeze their bodies to fit through any space larger than its beak. The average giant octopus grows to a length of about 16 feet from the top of its body to the tip of its arms and weighs between 70 and 110 pounds, making it the world’s largest octopus species. Fun Facts About Giant Pacific OctopusesĬharacteristics & Appearance Weight & Length.What Does the Giant Pacific Octopus Eat?.
Where Does the Giant Pacific Octopus Live?.