Octopus vulgaris, otherwise known as the common octopus, is a marine invertebrate with eight tentacles found in the ocean’s tropical and temperate waters. With a life span of 1-2 years O. vulgaris can grow to the average size of 12-36 inches and weigh around 6.6-22lbs. It uses a lair or den for sleeping, eating, resting, and hiding from predators. (1)
OCTOPUS DIET
It is a carnivore that eats snails, crabs, crayfish, and mollusks. They search for their prey by movement, shape, features, scent, and sight despite being colorblind. O. vulgaris can capture their prey in multiple different ways and can camouflage themselves by changing colors. Some use their tentacles to feel around and grope the prey, pounce on the prey by covering it with their web, or use water to uncover the prey when they are buried. Once the O. vulgaris finish eating they drop the leftover shells in piles described as middens. (3)
OCTOPUS DIET
It is a carnivore that eats snails, crabs, crayfish, and mollusks. They search for their prey by movement, shape, features, scent, and sight despite being colorblind. O. vulgaris can capture their prey in multiple different ways and can camouflage themselves by changing colors. Some use their tentacles to feel around and grope the prey, pounce on the prey by covering it with their web, or use water to uncover the prey when they are buried. Once the O. vulgaris finish eating they drop the leftover shells in piles described as middens. (3)
PHYSIOLOGY OF OCTOPUS FEEDING
The anatomy of the O. vulgaris is very interesting. Its eight tentacles, a muscular hydrostat, are lined with suction cups. These help to capture and pull apart the prey. It also has a upper and lower beak referred to as the horny parrot beak which has very strong muscles to help slice through prey. (pictured below) Then in the mouth there is a radula. This can be described as a saw like tongue used to wear down hard materials. They also secrete fluid and poison from the salivary gland to allow the prey to relax their muscles and become easier to open. The O. vulgaris also has a siphon, or funnel, which is located near the mouth. This can help uncover buried prey by spraying water to move sand around. (2)
The anatomy of the O. vulgaris is very interesting. Its eight tentacles, a muscular hydrostat, are lined with suction cups. These help to capture and pull apart the prey. It also has a upper and lower beak referred to as the horny parrot beak which has very strong muscles to help slice through prey. (pictured below) Then in the mouth there is a radula. This can be described as a saw like tongue used to wear down hard materials. They also secrete fluid and poison from the salivary gland to allow the prey to relax their muscles and become easier to open. The O. vulgaris also has a siphon, or funnel, which is located near the mouth. This can help uncover buried prey by spraying water to move sand around. (2)
The O. vulgaris will capture their prey using their tentacles and suction cups. First they will try to pry their prey apart only using their tentacles. If the O. vulgaris fails they will proceed to use their very sharp beak and radula to get inside the shell. Then they will use a poisonous liquid from the salivary gland to force their prey to relax their muscles making it easier to pull apart their shell. Once the shell is open they will use their beak to pull out the meat. After the O. vulgaris is finished eating it usually discards the shells outside their lair.
REFERENCES
1. Animal Fact Guide. Common Octopus. http://www.animalfactguide.com. Accessed April 3, 2014.
2. Espinosa R, Myers P, Parr S. Octopus Vulgaris. Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Octopus_vulgaris/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Cephalopoda/Octopus_vulgaris/. Published 2014. Accessed April 3, 2014.
3. Pierce M, Wood J. The Common Octopus. Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda. http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Octopusvulgaris.html. Accessed April 3, 2014.
1. Animal Fact Guide. Common Octopus. http://www.animalfactguide.com. Accessed April 3, 2014.
2. Espinosa R, Myers P, Parr S. Octopus Vulgaris. Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Octopus_vulgaris/pictures/collections/contributors/Grzimek_inverts/Cephalopoda/Octopus_vulgaris/. Published 2014. Accessed April 3, 2014.
3. Pierce M, Wood J. The Common Octopus. Marine Invertebrates of Bermuda. http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/MarineInvertebrateZoology/Octopusvulgaris.html. Accessed April 3, 2014.