History of changes

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Strugnell, J.M., Norman, M.D., Vecchione, M., Guzic, M. & Allcock, A.L. 2014. The ink sac clouds octopod evolutionary history. Hydrobiologia 725: 215-235

Introduction

The order Octopoda includes the inshore, shallow water benthic octopods, the pelagic octopods and the deepwater finned octopods.

The order is divided into two suborders: Cirrata and Incirrata.

Diagnosis

Four pairs of arms present; no retractable thread-like filaments. Suckers sessile (rarely stalked) in 1or 2 rows; lacking chitinous rings. Arms commonly connected by web, which may be very deep. Fins either absent or one pair of short, paddle-like fins situated on sides of mantle. Mantle always fused with head in occipital area but generally not fused with funnel. Mantle and funnel cartilages, if present, simple in form of tubercle and pit. Mantle cavity connected with exterior usually by one opening at ventral side of body, rarely by two, one on each side. No external photophores or composite structure; only a few species have simple photophores. Gladius represented by a cartilaginous fin support, reduced to small cartilaginous rods, or absent.

General References

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

History of changes

Introduction

The Suborder Cirrata comprises five families. thre of which, Cirroctopodidae, Opisthoteuthidae, and Stauroteuthidae are recorded from Australian waters.

Diagnosis

One pair of paddle-like fins present, supported by U-, V-, or saddle-like cartilage. Arm suckers in one row flanked on each side by one row of cirri. Mantle opening very narrow, a slit around funnel base, sometimes obliterated. Web usually very deep, reaching tips of arms in some forms. Ink sac absent. Radula usually absent. Left oviduct only developed. Deepwater benthic (rarely pelagic) animals.

General References

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

History of changes

• CIRROCTOPODIDAE Collins, M.A. & Villenueva, R. 2006. Taxonomy, ecology and behaviour of the cirrate octopods. Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review 44: 277-322.

  Type genus:

   Cirroctopus Naef, 1923.

History of changes

Distribution

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

History of changes

• Stauroteuthis mawsoni Berry, S.S. 1917. Cephalopoda. Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911–14. Science Report 4(2): 5-38 pls 10-14.

  Type data:

   Holotype AM C.40886, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, off Mertz Glacier, Adelie Land [66°55′S, 145°21′E].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Young, R.E. & Vecchione, M. 13 May 2003. Cirroctopus mawsoni. The Tree of Life Web Project. 13. http://tolweb.org/Cirroctopus_mawsoni/20111/2003.05

Generic Combinations

• Cirroctopus mawsoni (Berry, 1917). —
  Hochberg, F.G., Norman, M.D. & Finn, J. 2014. Family Stauroteuthidae. pp.266-267 in Jereb, P., Roper, C., Norman, M., & Finn, J. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. Rome, Italy : FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes pp. 353.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory

History of changes

• Grimpoteuthidae O'Shea, 1999.

Introduction

The original spelling for this family name was Grimpoteuthididae, based on the stem -teuthid of the type genus. However, ICZN Art. 29.3.1.1 states that, 'If the stem so formed ends in -id, those letters may be elided before adding the family-group suffixes.' The family name based on Grimpoteuthis is here spelled Grimpoteuthidae for consistency with other cephalopod family group names.

History of changes

• Grimpoteuthis Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

  Type species:

   Cirroteuthis umbellata Fischer, 1884 by original designation.

Distribution

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Lord Howe Province (14), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Southern Province (8)

General References

Verhoeff, T. & O'Shea, S. 2022. New records and two new species of Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthididae) from southern Australia and New Zealand. Molluscan Research 42: 4-30 [8] (recognised in family Grimpoteuthididae O’Shea, 1999)

History of changes

• Grimpoteuthis abyssicola O'Shea, S. 1999. The marine fauna of New Zealand: Octopoda (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 112: 1-280 [46-47].

  Type data:

   Holotype NZOI NZOI H-661 ♀ ML 75.0 mm, west of New Zealand off Lord Howe Rise [35°35.1' S, 160°57.1' E].

Distribution

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Lord Howe Province (14)

General References

Verhoeff, T. & O'Shea, S. 2022. New records and two new species of Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthididae) from southern Australia and New Zealand. Molluscan Research 42: 4-30 [23]

History of changes

• Grimpoteuthis greeni Verhoeff, T. & O'Shea, S. 2022. New records and two new species of Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthididae) from southern Australia and New Zealand. Molluscan Research 42: 4-30 [8].

  Type data:

   Holotype TMAG E45563 (1993–1963m, CSIRO (FRV Southern Surveyor, Cruise SS 01/2000, Stn 169, McKenna Market Trawl), 19 Apr 2000), Everard Canyon, southeastern Australia [38°33.88ʹ–35.75ʹS, 149°26.47ʹ–31.11ʹE].
  Paratype(s) TMAG E16625 (480–528 m, coll RM Green (DSF (Hobart), FV Margaret Philippa, Stn MP0090001−MP0090002), 1 Jun 1985), Great Australian Bight, southwestern Australia [33°23–32ʹS, 126°56ʹ–127°09ʹE]; MV F52348 (1014–1034 m, coll RM Green (TFDA (Hobart), FV Margaret Philippa, Stn MP0060002), 9 Nov 1984), Great Australian Bight, southern Australia [34°01–06ʹS, 131°54–57ʹE].

Introduction

Originally described in "as Grimpoteuthis (s.l.)" (Verhoeff & O'Shea 2022).

Distribution

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Southern Province (8)

General References

Verhoeff, T. & O'Shea, S. 2022. New records and two new species of Grimpoteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata: Grimpoteuthididae) from southern Australia and New Zealand. Molluscan Research 42: 4-30 [8]

History of changes

• Luteuthis O'Shea, 1999.

  Type species:

   Luteuthis dentatus O'Shea, 1999 by original designation.

Distribution

IMCRA

Macquarie Island Province (24)

Other Regions

Macquarie Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

• Luteuthis dentatus O'Shea, S. 1999. The marine fauna of New Zealand: Octopoda (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). NIWA Biodiversity Memoir 112: 1-280 [57].

Distribution

IMCRA

Macquarie Island Province (24)

Other Regions

Macquarie Island terrestrial & freshwater

Distribution References

History of changes

• OPISTHOTEUTHIDAE Verrill, A.E. 1896. The Opisthoteuthidae. A remarkable new family of deep sea Cephalopoda, with remarks on some points in molluscan morphology. American Journal of Science 2: 74-80.

  Type genus:

   Opisthoteuthis Verrill, 1896.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Hochberg, F.G., Norman, M.D. & Finn, J.K. 2014. Family Opisthoteuthidae. pp. 248-261 in Jereb, P., Roper, C., Norman, M., & Finn, J. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. Rome, Italy : FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes pp. 353.

Introduction

Opisthoteuthids are small to medium sized with soft, flabby, semi-gelatinous body consistency. The body is often flattened and disc-like, but can be bell shaped when preserved. The mantle opening is a narrow slit and with a short funnel. The eight arms are connected by a single deep web reaching almost to the arm tips. The arms are equipped with a single row of suckers and with paired short cirri alternating with the suckers. The paired posterior fins are short.

The family Opisthoteuthidae was erected by Verrill in 1896 for his species Opisthoteuthis agassizii, captured during the Blake Expedition off the West Indies, and published in 1883.

Subsequently, the genus Opisthoteuthis was placed in the family Cirroteuthidae Keferstein 1866 by Chun (1915), Berry (1918), and Sasaki (1929). Robson (1932) accepted Verrill's original designation and this has been followed by Thiele (1935), Voss (1977, 1988a, 1988b) and Nesis (1982). Voss (1988b) listed 26 nominal species in the family including five considered to be nomina dubia. However, the taxonomy of the family, indeed of all cirrate octopods, is very confused.

The first Australian record of Opisthoteuthis is Berry's report on the cephalopods taken by the Endeavour Expedition (Berry 1918) of two species new to science: Opisthoteuthis pluto from the Great Australian Bight and O. persephone from the Great Australian Bight and off Genoa Peak, Victoria (37°32'S 149°38'E). Lu & Phillips (1985) extended the distributional records of O. persephone to the waters off New South Wales and Tasmania.

The cartilaginous shell of the Australian members of the family, Opisthoteuthis pluto and O. persephone are broadly U-shaped. Voss (1988a) reported that when the animal is in a disc-like state, the shell is almost a flattened strap; however, when the animal assumes a horizontal swimming position, i.e. in the bell-shaped form, the shell is strongly curved.

The mantle of Opisthoteuthis is semi-gelatinous with reduced muscle fibres and thick watery cellular matrix. Aldred et al. (1983) suggested that the semi-gelatinous structure of the body of cirrate octopods may contribute to buoyancy through the storage of ammonia ions. Simple tests such as heating pieces of mantle tissue of Opisthoteuthis pluto with KOH solution, to cause release of ammonia, failed to support this hypothesis (Lu 2001).

Roper & Brundage (1972) studied a large series of deep-sea photographs and concluded that three styles of locomotion are employed by octopoteuthids, either singly or concurrently: (1) the jet propulsion type typical of other octopods, (2) the pulsating type produced by opening and closing using the web and arms, and (3) the drogue-like or umbrella phase utilising outstretched web and arms. The pulsating type of locomotion was first observed directly by Pereyra (1965) on Opisthoteuthis californiana in a shipboard aquarium.

Opisthoteuthids lack a radula and salivary glands are also absent in the genus Opisthoteuthis. The absence of these structures, however, does not appear to impede carnivory in these octopods. Scott (1910) found crustaceans of many species in the stomach of a Grimpoteuthis species and fragments of polychaetes were found in the stomach of Grimpoteuthis glacialis (Robson 1930). Meyer (1906) reported small crustaceans and small fish, some swallowed whole, in the stomachs of Opisthoteuthis depressa Ijima & Ikeda of Japan.

The mature opisthoteuthid male has enlarged suckers near the base or near the tip of all arms (Sasaki 1929; Nesis 1982). Opisthoteuthid eggs are large: the maximum size of eggs in O. californiana was reported to be 9 x 5 mm (Berry 1952) and 11 x 6 mm for the eggs in oviducts (Pereyra 1965). Ripe ovarian eggs of O. vossi are 9.9 mm in diameter (Sanchez & Guerra 1989).

Young opisthoteuthids are probably planktonic. The smallest planktonic juvenile recorded is a specimen of 15 mm ML (Berry 1912); it has only suckers on the arms, the cirri develop later. Adult opisthoteuthids are bathybenthic, living on the bottom of the sea at depths of 100 m to 2250 m with the main concentration at 100 to 1000 m. The known depth records are 350 m to 1254 m for O. pluto and 396 m to 660 m for O. persephone.

Opisthoteuthids occur in the tropical and temperate seas, from 50°N to 48°S (Voss 1988b, Lu 2001). Voss (1988b) summarised the distributional data of all known species. Opisthoteuthis agassizi occurs in both sides of the Atlantic Ocean with more limited distribution in the western Atlantic. Opisthoteuthis californiana occurs in waters off northern California, Washington and Japan. Both O. depressa and O. japonica are known only from Japanese waters. Opisthoteuthis extensa is known from a station south-west of Sumatra and O. medusoides from off Zanzibar. Opisthoteuthis philippi is known from off south-western India.

The Australian opisthoteuthid O. pluto was described from the deep waters of the Great Australian Bight and O. persephone from the Great Australian Bight and Victoria (Berry 1918). Recent collections indicate that O. pluto occurs in the continental slope waters from the Great Barrier Reef region, along the south coast of Australia, including Tasmania to South Tasman Rise and the north-west slope of Western Australia. Opisthoteuthis persephone is distributed in the slope waters from New South Wales along the south coast of Australia, including Tasmania to the Great Australian Bight. Both species are known only from Australian waters.

Diagnosis

Deep-sea octopods of small to medium size, with semi-gelatinous body consistency. The body is often flattened but when preserved can be bell shaped. The mantle opening is small with a short funnel. The eight arms are connected by a single deep web; there is no secondary web. The arms are equipped with a single row of suckers and with paired short cirri alternating with the suckers. The paired posterior fins are short. The shell is V- or U-shaped.

General References

Aldred, R.G., Nixon, M. & Young, J.Z. 1983. Cirrothauma murrayi Chun, a finned octopod. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 301: 1-54

Berry, S.S. 1912. A review of the cephalopods of western North America. Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries (U.S.) 30: 269-336, pl. 32-56

Berry, S.S. 1918. Report on the Cephalopoda obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour in the Great Australian Bight and other southern Australian localities. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 4: 203-298 pls 59-88

Berry S.S. 1952. The flapjack devilfish, Opisthoteuthis in California. California Fisheries and Game 38: 183-188

Chun, C. 1915. Die Cephalopoden. II. Teil: Myopsida, Octopoda. Jena : Verlag von Gustav Fischer. [English Translation (1975). 436 pp. Roper, C.F.E. & Roper, I.H. (eds). Jerusalem: Israel Program for Scientific Translation English Translation (1975). 436 pp. Roper, C.F.E. & Roper, I.H. (eds). Jerusalem: Israel Program for Scientific Translation CHECK, 1914 IN TEXT]

Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001]

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

Meyer, W. Th. 1906. Die Anatomie von Opisthoteuthis depressa (Ijima and Ikeda). Forest Research 85: 183-269, 6 pls

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

Pereyra, W.T. 1965. New records and observations on the flapjack devilfish, Opisthoteuthis californiana Berry. Pacific Science 19(4): 427-441

Robson, G.C. 1930. Cephalopoda. I. Octopoda. Discovery Reports 2: 371-402, 2 pls

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Roper, C.F.E. & Brundage, W.L. Jr 1972. Cirrate octopods with associated deep-sea organisms: new biological data based on deep benthic photographs (Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 121: 1-46

Sanchez, P. & Guerra, A. 1989. A new species of cirrate octopod, Opisthoteuthis vossi, from the southeast Atlantic (Cephalopoda: Octopoda). Bulletin of Marine Science 44: 1159-1165

Sasaki, M. 1929. A monograph of the dibranchiate cephalopods of the Japanese and adjacent waters. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University 20(Suppl.): 1-357 30 pls

Scott, T. 1910. Notes on Crustacea found in the gizzard of a deep-sea cephalopod. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8 5: 51-54

Thiele, J. 1935. Handbuch der Systematischen Weichtierkunde. Zweiter Band. Classis Cephalopoda. Stuttgart : Verlages Gustav Fischer pp. 948–995.

Verrill, A.E. 1896. The Opisthoteuthidae. A remarkable new family of deep sea Cephalopoda, with remarks on some points in molluscan morphology. American Journal of Science 2: 74-80

Verrill. A.E. 1883. Supplementary report on the Blake Cephalopoda. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 11: 105-115

Voss, G.L. 1977. Classification of recent cephalopods. pp. 575-579 in Nixon, M. & Messenger, J.B. (eds). The Biology of Cephalopods. London : Academic Press.

Voss, G.L. 1988a. Evolution and phylogenetic relationships of deep-sea octopods (Cirrata and Incirrata). pp. 253-276 in Clarke, M.R. & Trueman, E.R. (eds). Paleontology and Neontology of Cephalopods. The Mollusca. Vol. 12. San Diego; London : Academic Press.

Voss, G.L. 1988b. The biogeography of the deepsea Octopoda. Malacologia 29: 295-307

History of changes

• Opisthoteuthis Verrill. A.E. 1883. Supplementary report on the Blake Cephalopoda. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 11: 105-115 [113].

  Type species:

   Opisthoteuthis agassizii Verrill, 1883 by original designation.
• Teuthidiscus Berry, S.S. 1918. Report on the Cephalopoda obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour in the Great Australian Bight and other southern Australian localities. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 4: 203-298 pls 59-88 [284] [invalid name; first introduced as subgenus of Opisthoteuthis Verrill, 1883].

  Type species:

   Opisthoteuthis (Teuthidiscus) pluto Berry, 1918 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Voss, G.L. 1956. A review of the cephalopods of the Gulf of Mexico. Bulletin of Marine Science of the Gulf and Caribbean 6: 85-178

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Opisthoteuthis (Teuthidiscus) persephone Berry, S.S. 1918. Report on the Cephalopoda obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour in the Great Australian Bight and other southern Australian localities. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 4: 203-298 pls 59-88 [290].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM E5718, 42 miles S and E of Genoa Peak, VIC.

  Secondary source:

   Rudman, W.B. 1983. The cephalopod collections of the Australian Museum. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 67-75.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), West Tasmania Transition (9)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic.

General References

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls. [171]

History of changes

• Opisthoteuthis (Teuthidiscus) pluto Berry, S.S. 1918. Report on the Cephalopoda obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour in the Great Australian Bight and other southern Australian localities. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 4: 203-298 pls 59-88 [284].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM E3628 (not found), (Great Australian Bight), SA [129°28'E].
  Paratype(s) AM E4375 juv.

  Secondary source:

   Rudman, W.B. 1983. The cephalopod collections of the Australian Museum. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 67-75.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7), Southern Province (8)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic.

General References

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls. [170] (as Opisthoteuthis pluto Berry, 1918)

History of changes

• STAUROTEUTHIDAE Verrill, A.E. 1879. Notice of recent additions to the marine fauna of the east coast of North America. American Journal of Science and Arts 3: 17-309.

History of changes

• Stauroteuthis Verrill, A.E. 1879. Notice of recent additions to the marine fauna of the east coast of North America. American Journal of Science and Arts 3: 17-309.

  Type species:

   Stauroteuthis syrtensis Verrill, 1879 by original designation.

Taxonomic Decision for Subgeneric Arrangement

• Verhoeff, T.J. 2023. A new species of Stauroteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata) and further novel cirrate octopods from Australian waters. Molluscan Research 43(3-4): 153-172 [2]

Introduction

In addition to describing Stauroteuthis kengrahami, Verhoeff (2023) reported Stauroteuthis ? gilchristi from off Macquarie Island. Its specific identity is yet to be confirmed.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

General References

Verhoeff, T.J. 2023. A new species of Stauroteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata) and further novel cirrate octopods from Australian waters. Molluscan Research 43(3-4): 153-172

History of changes

• Stauroteuthis kengrahami Verhoeff, T.J. 2023. A new species of Stauroteuthis (Octopoda: Cirrata) and further novel cirrate octopods from Australian waters. Molluscan Research 43(3-4): 153-172 [2–8, Figs 2–4; Table 1].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM C.476238.001 ♀, NSW, off Batemans Bay [35°40ʹ–42ʹS, 150°42ʹ–44ʹE].

Distribution

States

New South Wales

Extra Distribution Information

Off Batemans Bay, NSW

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11)

Distribution References

History of changes

Introduction

Suborder Incirrata is represented in Australian waters by seven of its nine families.

Diagnosis

Fins absent. Gladius reduced or absent. Web commonly not extending to tips of arms. Arm suckers in 1 or 2 rows. No cirri present. Mantle opening usually moderately wide or wide, sometimes reduced to two slits on sides of head. Radula always present; ink sac present or absent. Both oviducts developed.

General References

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

History of changes

History of changes

• ALLOPOSIDAE Verrill, A.E. 1881. The cephalopods of the north-eastern coast of America, Part II. The smaller cephalopods, including the "squids" and the octopi, with other allied forms. Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences 5: 259-446.

  Type genus:

   Haliphron Steenstrup, 1859.

History of changes

• Haliphron Steenstrup 1861. Foreviste derpaa en Afdeling af Museets seneste Forogelser af Blaeksprutteklassen, saerligen Octopodformer fra Middelhavet og gav Bemaerkninger om de enkelte Arter, fornemlig efter det Veranyske Cephalopodvaerk. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening i Kjøbenhavn 332-333.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

History of changes

• Haliphron atlanticus Steenstrup 1861. Foreviste derpaa en Afdeling af Museets seneste Forogelser af Blaeksprutteklassen, saerligen Octopodformer fra Middelhavet og gav Bemaerkninger om de enkelte Arter, fornemlig efter det Veranyske Cephalopodvaerk. Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra Dansk Naturhistorisk Forening i Kjøbenhavn 332-333 [332].

  Type data:

   Holotype ZMUC CEP-000073, Atlantic Ocean (from shark stomach) [38°N, 34°W].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Circumglobal in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans between 43°N and 45°S. Surface to at least 1260 m and up to 6787 m.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Lord Howe Province (14), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Timor Province (2), Cape Province (20), Norfolk Island Province (21), Cocos (Keeling) Island Province (22), Christmas Island Province (23), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Northwest Transition (3), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northwest Province (4), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41), Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6), Southwest Transition (7)

Distribution References

History of changes

• ARGONAUTIDAE Cantraine, F. 1841. Malacologie Mediterraneenne et littorale. Nouveaux memoires de l'Academie Royale, des Sciences et Belleslettres de Bruxelles 13(1): 1-173, 6 pl. [Date published 1838-?].

  Type genus:

   Argonauta Linnaeus, 1758.
• ARGONAUTIDES Cantraine, F., 1841 [original spelling].

Introduction

Members of the family Argonautidae Cantraine, 1841 are pelagic octopods that exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism in size. Females attain a large size, over 100 mm mantle length (ML), while the males are minute, up to 15 mm ML depending on the species. (The family was originally described by Cantraine as Argonautides. The date of publication is unclear. The article, accessed via the Biodiversity Heritage Library, has publication date given as 1838-? The date given in WoRMs (accessed 30 May 2023) is given as 1841, so this date has been used here for the family authority.

Female Argonauta secrete a thin, laterally compressed calcareous structure. It is a single-chambered egg case with a flat keel fringed by two rows of tubercles. The lateral sides of the shell are ribbed with the centre pressed in, or bent outwards into a prominent ‘ear’ or ‘horn’. The shell provides protection and flotation and allows attachment of the eggs (Young 1960).

Records and studies of Argonauta date back several hundred years. Many names, records and descriptions exist in an extensive bibliography ranging from sale catalogues of curios to serious zoological literature. Robson (1932) gave extensive listings of names, literature and the available biological information. Nesis (1982) recognised only four valid species worldwide: Argonauta argo, A. nodosa, A. boettgeri and A. hians.

McCoy (1882) described the first argonaut from Australia, Argonauta oryzata (now considered to be a junior synonym of Argonauta nodosa). Brazier (1892) in his catalogue of the Australian Museum collection listed A. argo, A. nodosa, A. hians and A. boettgeri from Australian waters. Lu & Phillips (1985) updated the distributional records and confirmed the presence of A. argo, A. nodosa and A. hians in Australian waters. Argonauta boettgeri is now known to be a synonym of A. hians.

Argonauts feed primarily during the day (Nesis 1977), apparently on pelagic molluscs. Okutani (1960) reported that, off Japan, female Argonauta hians [as A. boettgeri] prey on the pteropod, Carolina tridentata. Nesis (1977) also found that pelagic molluscs e.g. heteropods and pteropods, are the dominant prey of A. hians from the western Pacific, with other octopods less frequently among the food items. Remains of heteropods have also been found in the stomachs of A. hians (Nesis 1977).

Argonauts themselves are preyed on by many predators. Okutani & Suzuki (1975) reported Argonauta hians in the stomach contents of a yellowfin tuna from the Indian Ocean. Rancurel (1970) reported finding A. argo, A. hians and A. nodosa(?) in the stomach contents of Alepisaurus ferox from the south-western Pacific. In Australian waters, A. nodosa was found in the stomach contents of the Australian fur seals, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus, in the Bass Strait and southern Tasmania (Gales et al. 1994).

Males of A. hians mature at about 7 mm ML, presumably the maximum size attained (Nesis 1977). Argonauta argo males mature at 8 mm ML (Naef 1923). No data are available on males of A. nodosa. The hectocotylus is lost during mating, and all males die soon after their first mating (Nesis 1977).

In females the maximum shell (egg case) length exceeds the mantle length and the animal can be completely withdrawn into shell. In Argonauta hians the shell is formed at a mantle length of 6.5–7 mm (Nesis 1977), and at the same size in A. argo (Naef 1923).

Mating occurs shortly before the first eggs are laid. Female Argonauta hians, taken at length 11–13 mm ML, already had hectocotyli in the mantle cavity. Egg laying begins when females reach a size of 14–15 mm; female A. hians, 18–20 mm ML, have laid eggs. The size at which egg-laying commences differs in different regions of the world's oceans (Nesis 1977). Female A. argo mature at about double the size of A. hians (Naef 1923).

The eggs are laid in clusters consisting of many small eggs connected by a stalk. They are attached to the apex of the shell, occupying its posterior part. Clusters of eggs at different developmental stages are found in the shell. Nesis (1977) found that in Argonauta boettgeri the egg clusters can be clearly divided into three parts; each has eggs at a similar developmental stage. The first portion lies closest to the aperture of the shell and contains eggs at an early stage of development. The second portion is found in the middle of the mass and contains eggs at stages ranging from the appearance of red eye pigment to the beginning of chromatophore formation. The third portion is located farthest from the aperture of the shell and contains eggs with embryos that are fully formed and ready to hatch; the chromatophores, ink sac and dark coloured eyes are fully formed. Reid (1989) found similar development in the egg mass of A. nodosa from southern Australia.

Hatching takes place at night. Newly hatched larvae are released and can be caught in plankton samples at night. Egg laying probably also occurs at night. Nesis (1977) suggested that the three stages of development in the egg clusters represented the products of three successive nights. Egg incubation lasts three days at temperatures of 26–29°C.

Female argonauts begin to reproduce very early and continue to grow and reproduce for a long time. Shells of a large size range have been collected. Shells of recently mature females contain only a small cluster of eggs at the first stage of development. Large females generally have clusters containing eggs at all three stages.

Argonauta hians is known to cling to any object floating on the surface of the sea, including other argonauts (Nesis 1977). Williamson (in Voss & Williamson 1971) reported finding a chain of argonauts clinging to each other. Nesis (1977) reported that up to 20–30 argonauts of similar size can be involved in such a chain, with the first female usually holding onto some inanimate object while other females in the chain hold onto the proceeding one, on the ventral part of the shell.

Argonauts are epipelagic living predominantly in the upper 100 m (Lu & Clarke 1975; Roper & Young 1975). Nesis (1977) believed that mature animals are not restricted to the surface layer but live at all epipelagic depths.

Argonauta argo and A. hians are cosmopolitan, occurring in tropical to subtropical oceans. Argonauta nodosa is known only from the Southern Hemisphere, in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

In Australia, A. nodosa is known from southern Australia from waters off New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. Argonauta argo is found in the warmer waters off Western Australia and north of Gabo Island, Victoria. Argonauta hians is known from the North West Shelf of Western Australia.

Diagnosis

The body is firm, with the mantle thin but muscular. The mantle locking apparatus is well developed and complex. The arms bear two rows of suckers, and are connected by shallow web. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Males are dwarf with the entire left arm III hectocotylised, developed in a pouch beneath the eye; at maturity, the hectocotylised arm is autotomised. In females, the distal tips of dorsal arms bear broad, expanded, membranous, glandular flaps that secrete and hold the thin, fragile shell (egg case).

General References

Brazier, J. 1892. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania. Pt I. Cephalopoda; Pt II. Pteropoda. Sydney : Australian Museum Catalogue Vol. 15 42 pp.

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013]

Gales, R., Pemberton, D., Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1993. Cephalopod diet of the Australian fur seal: variation due to location, season and sample type. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44: 657-671

Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1975. Vertical distribution of cephalopods at 11°N, 20°W in the North Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 55: 369-389

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

McCoy, F. 1882. Natural History of Victoria — Argonauta oryzata (Meusch.). Prodromus of the Zoology of Victoria. Decade VII. pp. 7–10, pl. 61–62.

Naef, A. 1923. Die Cephalopoden, Systematik. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 35 1: 1-863

Nesis, K.N. 1977. The biology of paper nautiluses, Argonauta boettgeri and A. hians (Cephalopoda, Octopoda), in the western Pacific and the seas of the East Indian Archipelago. Zoologicheskii Zhurnal 56: 1004-1014 [in Russian, translated by M.J. Grygier]

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

Okutani, T. 1960. Argonauta boettgeri preys on Cavolinia tridentata. Venus 21(1): 39-41

Okutani, T. & Suzuki, K. 1975. Concurrence of bathypelagic Spirula spirula and epipelagic Argonauta boettgeri in stomach contents of a yellowfin tuna from the Indian Ocean. Venus 34(1): 49-51

Rancurel, P. 1970. Les contenus stomacaux d'Alepisaurus ferox dans le sud-ouest Pacifique (Céphalopodes). Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 8(4): 4-87

Reid, A. 1989. Argonauts: ancient mariners in boats of shell. Australian Natural History 22(12): 580-587

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Roper, C.F.E. & Young, R.E. 1975. Vertical distribution of pelagic cephalopods. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 209: 1-51

Voss, G.L. & Williamson, G. 1971. Cephalopods of Hong Kong. Hong Kong : Government Press 138 pp.

Young, J.Z. 1960. Observations on Argonauta and especially its method of feeding. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 133(3): 471-479

History of changes

• Argonauta Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [708].

  Type species:

   Argonauta argo Linnaeus, 1758 by subsequent designation, see Montfort, P.D. de 1810. Conchyliologie Systematique, et Classification Methodique des Coquilles. Paris : F. Schoell Tome 2 676 + 16 pp. [7]; Dall, W.H. 1908. Report on the dredging operations of the west coast of Central America, to the Galapagos, to the west coast of Mexico, and in the Gulf of California, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, carried on by the U.S. Fish Comm. Steamer "Albatross", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z.L. Tanner, U.S.M., commanding, XXXVIII. and Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the eastern tropical Pacific … etc. XV. The Mollusca and Brachiopoda. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 43: 205–487, pls 1–22.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

General References

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013]

History of changes

• Argonauta argo Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [708].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, LS "the smallest specimen (according to Dodge (1953) from the Mediterranean form" with a height of 54 mm, width 87 mm, Mediterranean (as Pelago, M Indico, Mediterrane).

  Type locality references:

  Dall, W.H. 1908. Report on the dredging operations of the west coast of Central America, to the Galapagos, to the west coast of Mexico, and in the Gulf of California, in charge of Alexander Agassiz, carried on by the U.S. Fish Comm. Steamer "Albatross", during 1891, Lieut. Commander Z.L. Tanner, U.S.M., commanding, XXXVIII. and Reports on the scientific results of the expedition to the eastern tropical Pacific … etc. XV. The Mollusca and Brachiopoda. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard 43: 205–487, pls 1–22.

  Secondary source:

   Sweeney, M.J. & Roper, C.F.E. 1998. Classification, type localities, and type repositories of recent Cephalopoda. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 586(II): 561-598; Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [195].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Most common in southern WA from Rottnest Island to Albany, also occurs over the North Wesy Shelf, WA and the waters of SA, Bass Strait, norther TAS, eastern VIC and from Fraser Island, QLD to south of Sydney, NSW, and Lord Howe Island. circum global in northern and southern hemispheres from 40°N to 40°S.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, epipelagic, inshore, nectonic.

General References

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [189-200, figs 30-35]

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls. (life history)

Common Name References

CephBase 2000. [Internet database of world cephalopods]. www.cephbase.dal.ca/. (Greater Argonaut)

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [199] (Greater Argonaut)

History of changes

• Argonauta hians Lightfoot, J. 1786. A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland: deceased which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Skinner and Co., etc. London viii, 194 pp. + 44 pp. [44].

  Type data:

   Lectotype Rumphius 1739: plate 18, figure B, Amboina.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Moolenbeek, R.G. 2008. The genus Argonauta (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) as figured in Rumphius, 1739 and listed in the Portland Catalogue, 1786. Miscellanea Malacologica 3: 25-30.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.; Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [173-189].
• Argonauta bottgeri Maltzan, H. von. 1881. Description de deux espèces nouvelle. Journal of Conchology 29: 162-163 [163, pl. 6, fig. 7] [as Argonauta böttgeri].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [177]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

From Caper Peron, WA to Groote Eylandt, Gulf of Carpentaria, NT and from Cape York, QLD to south of Botany Bay, NSW, and Lord Howe Island; common over the North West Shelf; Indo-west Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.

IMCRA

Lord Howe Province (14), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, epipelagic, nectonic.

General References

Brazier, J. 1892. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania. Pt I. Cephalopoda; Pt II. Pteropoda. Sydney : Australian Museum Catalogue Vol. 15 42 pp. (distribution; as Argonauta bottgeri)

Cotton, B.C. & Godfrey, F.K. 1940. The Molluscs of South Australia. Part 2. Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda, Aplacophora and Crepipoda. Adelaide : Government Printer 600 pp. [465] (as Argonauta böttgeri)

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [173, figs 22-29]

Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [149]

Common Name References

CephBase 2000. [Internet database of world cephalopods]. www.cephbase.dal.ca/. (Winged Argonaut)

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [186] (Brown Argonaut)

Lightfoot, J. 1786. A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland: deceased which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Skinner and Co., etc. London viii, 194 pp. + 44 pp. (Brown Paper Nautilus)

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [79] (Lesser Argonaut)

History of changes

• Argonauta nodosus Lightfoot, J. 1786. A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland: deceased which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Skinner and Co., etc. London viii, 194 pp. + 44 pp. [96].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, Cape of Good Hope.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.
• Argonauta oryzata Meuschen, F.C. 1787. Museum Geversium, sive index rerum naturalium …comparavit A. Gevers publice distrahendum. Rotterdam. [252].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls. [198]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

From Capricorn Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef, QLD to Bruny Island, TAS and west to Port Lincoln, SA; circum-global in the Southern Hemispher between 10° and 44°S

IMCRA

Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, epipelagic, inshore, nectonic.

General References

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [153, figs 11-21]

Common Name References

CephBase 2000. [Internet database of world cephalopods]. www.cephbase.dal.ca/. (Knobby Argonaut)

Finn, J.K. 2013. Taxonomy and biology of the argonauts (Cephalopoda: Argonautidae) with particular reference to Australian material. Molluscan Research 33(3): 143-222 [Date published August 2013] [167] (Tuberculated Argonaut)

Lightfoot, J. 1786. A Catalogue of the Portland Museum, lately the property of the Duchess Dowager of Portland: deceased which will be sold by auction, by Mr. Skinner and Co., etc. London viii, 194 pp. + 44 pp. (Tuberculated Paper Nautilus)

Mawe, J. 1823. The Linnean System of Chonchology, describing the orders, genera and species of shells, arranged into divisions and families. London : Longman, Hurst, Reese, Orme & Brown 207 pp. (Tuberculated Argonaut)

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [80] (Southern Argonaut)

History of changes

Introduction

The pelagic octopus of this monotypic family exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism in size. Females attain large size, up to 350 mm in mantle length (ML); the males are dwarf, probably not exceeding 30 mm ML (Roper & Sweeney 1976), and often live in the test of pelagic salps. The body of these animals is round or oval with long arms. The ventral mantle surface of the adult females bears a reticulate sculpture of ridges and tubercles. In males the hectocotylisation affects the entire third right arm; it develops in a pouch and is detachable.

Ocythoe tuberculata was described by Rafinesque in 1814 from a specimen captured in the Mediterranean Sea. Gray (1849) established the family Ocythoidae to accommodate Ocythoe and Argonauta. Jatta (1896) transferred the genus Ocythoe to the family Argonautidae, which arrangement was then followed by many workers. Robson (1932) re-instated the name Ocythoidae. Roper & Sweeney (1976) reviewed the literature on the species and described the first specimen captured from Australian waters. Lu & Phillips (1985) extended the distributional ranges of the species in Australia to include the open waters off southern Australia. All mature males from Australian waters are smaller than 20 mm ML (Lu 2001).

During mating the hectocotylus, containing the spermatophores, is detached and remains in the mantle cavity of the female. Ocythoe tuberculata produces a large number of eggs: a large female from South Australia is reported to contain 104 000 eggs (Roper & Sweeney 1976). The species is reported to be viviparous, with developing embryos of various stages found in the expanded oviducts (Jatta 1896; Naef 1923).

Ocythoe tuberculata has been observed living in the chamber of the salps, Salpa tilesii and Tethys vagina (Jatta 1896; Hardwich 1970). The animal may move in and out of the test.

Ocythoe tuberculata lives in the epipelagic zone from the surface to about 200 m. It has been found in the diets of lancetfishes Alepisaurux borealis and A. ferox, tunas Thunnus alalunga, T. thunnus and Germon germon, and Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus (Joubin 1900; Bouxin & Legendre 1936; Berry 1955; Rees & Maul 1956; Rancurel 1970; Iverson 1971; Pinkas 1971).

Ocythoe tuberculata is known to occur in the subtropical and temperate waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. No specimen has been reported from the tropical waters between 20°N and 20°S and the Indian Ocean (Roper & Sweeney 1976). In Australian waters, the species has been recorded in the diets of hammerhead sharks off New South Wales (Dunning et al. 1993) and has been captured from the open waters of New South Wales to southern Tasmania and the Great Australian Bight, Western Australia (Lu 2001).

Diagnosis

The body is firm, thick, and muscular. The ventral mantle surface in females bears tubercles and ridges in a reticulate pattern. The mantle locking apparatus is well developed and complex. A single ventral pair of water pores is present on the head. The web connecting all arms is very shallow to nearly absent. Arm suckers are biserial. Pronounced sexual dimorphism occurs: males are dwarf, often residing in the pallial chamber of pelagic salps. The entire right arm III is hectocotylised and develops within a stalked pouch; it is detachable in the mature male. Females are large at maturity. The shell vestige is absent.

General References

Berry, S.S. 1955. On recent Californian occurrences of the rare octopod Ocythoe. California Fisheries and Game 41(2): 177-181

Bouxin, J. & Legendre, R. 1936. La fauna pelagique de l'Atlantique recueillie dans des estomacs de germon au large du Golfe de Gascogne, II: Céphalopodes. Annales de l'Institut Océanographique 16(1): 1-99

Dunning, M.C., Clarke, M.R. & Lu, C.C. 1993. Cephalopods in the diet of oceanic sharks caught off eastern Australia. pp. 119-131 in Okutani, T., O'Dor, R.K. & Kubodera, T. (eds). Recent Advances in Cephalopod Fisheries Biology. Tokyo : Tokai University Press.

Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp.

Hardwich, J.E. 1970. A note on the behavior of the octopod Ocythoe tuberculata. California Fisheries and Game 56(1): 68-70

Iverson, I.L.K. 1971. Albacore food habits. Fisheries Bulletin, California Department of Fish and Game 151: 83-105

Jatta, G. 1896. I Cefalopodi viventi nel Golfo di Napoli (sistematica). Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 23: 1-268

Joubin, L. 1900. Céphalopodes provenant des campagnes de la Princesse-Alice (1891–1897). Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques accomplies par le Prince Albert I. Monaco 17: 1-135 15 pls

Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001]

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

Naef, A. 1923. Die Cephalopoden, Systematik. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 35 1: 1-863

Pinkas, L. 1971. Bluefin tuna food habits. Fisheries Bulletin, California Department of Fish and Game 152: 47-63

Rancurel, P. 1970. Les contenus stomacaux d'Alepisaurus ferox dans le sud-ouest Pacifique (Céphalopodes). Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 8(4): 4-87

Rees, W.J. & Maul, G.E. 1956. The Cephalopoda of Madeira. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zool. 3: 257-281

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Roper, C.F.E. & Sweeney, M.J. 1976. The pelagic octopod Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 1975: 21-28

History of changes

• Ocythoe Rafinesque-Schmaltz, C.S. 1814. Précis des découvertes et travaux somiologiques de M. r. C. S. Rafinesque-Schmaltz entre 1800 et 1814. Ou choix raisonné de ses principales découvertes en zoologie et en botanique, pour servir d'introduction à ses ouvrages futurs. Palermo : Royale Typographie Militaire 55 pp. + errata. [29].

  Type species:

   Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off southern California. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 97: 1-159; Roper, C.F.E. & Sweeney, M.J. 1976. The pelagic octopod Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 1975: 21-28.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Distribution References

General References

Naef, A. 1923. Die Cephalopoden, Systematik. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 35 1: 1-863 [749]

History of changes

• Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque-Schmaltz, C.S. 1814. Précis des découvertes et travaux somiologiques de M. r. C. S. Rafinesque-Schmaltz entre 1800 et 1814. Ou choix raisonné de ses principales découvertes en zoologie et en botanique, pour servir d'introduction à ses ouvrages futurs. Palermo : Royale Typographie Militaire 55 pp. + errata. [29].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, (lost), Mediterranean Sea.

  Type locality references:

  Roper, C.F.E. & Sweeney, M.J. 1976. The pelagic octopod Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 1975: 21-28.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.; Young, R.E. 1972. The systematics and areal distribution of pelagic cephalopods from the seas off southern California. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 97: 1-159.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Pelagic.

General References

Dunning, M.C., Clarke, M.R. & Lu, C.C. 1993. Cephalopods in the diet of oceanic sharks caught off eastern Australia. pp. 119-131 in Okutani, T., O'Dor, R.K. & Kubodera, T. (eds). Recent Advances in Cephalopod Fisheries Biology. Tokyo : Tokai University Press. (predators)

Roper, C.F.E. & Sweeney, M.J. 1976. The pelagic octopod Ocythoe tuberculata Rafinesque, 1814. Bulletin of the American Malacological Union 1975: 21-28 (life history)

Common Name References

CephBase 2000. [Internet database of world cephalopods]. www.cephbase.dal.ca/. (Tuberculate Pelagic Octopus)

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [81] (Football Octopus)

History of changes

• TREMOCTOPODIDAE Tryon, G.W. Jr 1879. Cephalopoda. Manual of Conchology. 1: 1–316. 1-316 pp.

  Type genus:

   Tremoctopus delle Chiaje, 1841.

Introduction

This pelagic octopod exhibits tremendous size and sexual dimorphism. The females reach a large size (up to 2 m in total length), the males are dwarf. The body is muscular and firm. The two dorsal pairs of arms are longer than the two ventral pairs. The web connecting the dorsal arms pairs is deepest, with the web being very shallow to almost absent ventrally. Two pairs of cephalic water pores are located at the dorsal and ventral aspects of the head. The third right arm of mature males is hectocotylised; modification of the hectocotylisation is extensive; the hectocotylus develops in an enclosed sac.

The family Tremoctopodidae was established by Tryon (1879) based on the genus Tremoctopus Delle Chiaje, 1830. Many other reports on this animal have been published subsequently on specimens captured in the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Pacific Ocean (Jatta 1896; Berry 1912; Naef 1923; Akimashkin 1963). Robson (1932) first revised the genus and, more recently, Thomas (1977) reviewed its systematics, distribution and biology.

Tremoctopus is a cosmopolitan, pelagic octopod genus, its members inhabiting tropical, subtropical and temperate waters. According to Thomas (1977), the family Tremoctopodidae consists of three species level taxa. Tremoctopus gelatus Thomas, 1977 is found off the eastern coast of Florida, Hawaii Islands and the Indian Ocean. Tremoctopus violaceus violaceus Delle Chiaje is found in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea; and T. violaceus gracilis is found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Tremoctopus is epipelagic, living in the surface waters (Clarke & Lu 1975; Lu & Clarke 1975; Roper & Young 1975).

The first record of the family from Australian waters was that of Lu & Phillips (1985) who recorded Tremoctopus violaceus from the coast of New South Wales. Zeidler (1989) expanded the distribution, including records for Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.

Thomas (1977) described the reproductive system of Tremoctopus violaceus in detail. Tremoctopus lacks a penis. The Needham’s sac is blind and the entire sac with the enclosed spermatophore is transferred to the spermatophore reservoir at the tip of the hectocotylised arm. Only a single spermatophore is produced in the lifetime of the male. The spermatophore reservoir connects with the penial filament by means of a duct that passes into the filament.

Tremoctopus autotomises its hectocotylised arm during mating. Sexually mature females are frequently found with these detached arms lying in the mantle cavity, with the ‘penis’ missing and spermatophore reservoir burst.

Females produce large egg masses comprising more than 100 000 small eggs. The egg stalks are cemented together to form root-like structures, which are held by the suckers of the female’s dorsal arms where the eggs are brooded (Naef 1923; Hamabe 1973).

The young Tremoctopus usually carry pieces of Portugese-Man-of-War, Physalia, tentacles in the dorsal and dorso-lateral arms and its suckers are filled with batteries of Physalia nematocysts (Jones 1963). This functions as a defence mechanism.

The food of Tremoctopus is varied. d’Orbigny (1840, in Férussac & d'Orbigny 1835–1848) reported finding abundant shells of pteropod molluscs in young animals, and Thomas (1977) found the adult females feed chiefly on small fish. Zeidler (1989) reported finding fish scales, cephalopod flesh, green and brown algae and polychaete jaws in Australian specimens. Predators of Tremoctopus include Alepisaurus ferox (Rancurel 1970).

Diagnosis

The body is muscular and firm. The two dorsal pairs of arms are longer than the two ventral pairs. The web connecting the dorsal arms pairs is deepest dorsally and very shallow to almost absent ventrally. Two pairs of cephalic water pores are located at the dorsal and ventral aspects of the head. The arm suckers are in two rows. The family exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism in size. Females are large, reaching to 2 m in total length. Males are dwarf. The third right arm of mature males is hectocotylised; the hectocotylised arm develops in a pouch below the eye and is detachable at maturity.

General References

Akimushkin, I.I. 1963. Cephalopods of the seas of the U.S.S.R. Jerusalem : Israel Program for Scientific Translation 223 pp. [English translation from Russian. Mercade, A. (Transl.), Finesilver, R. (ed.)]

Berry, S.S. 1912. A review of the cephalopods of western North America. Bulletin of the Bureau of Fisheries (U.S.) 30: 269-336, pl. 32-56

Clarke, M.R. & Lu, C.C. 1975. Vertical distribution of cephalopods at 18°N, 25°W in the North Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 55: 165-182

Férussac, A. de & d'Orbigny, A. 1834. [1835–1848] Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des cephalopodes acetabulifères vivants et fossiles. Paris : Libraire F. Savy.

Hamabe, M. 1973. Egg mass and newborns of Tremoctopus violaceus Delle Chiaje, caught in the Harbour of Kasumi, Hyogo Prefecture. Bulletin of the Tokai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory 72: 1-5

Jatta, G. 1896. I Cefalopodi viventi nel Golfo di Napoli (sistematica). Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 23: 1-268

Jones, E.C. 1963. Tremoctopus violaceus uses Physalia tentacles as weapons. Science (Washington, D.C.) 139: 764-766

Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1975. Vertical distribution of cephalopods at 11°N, 20°W in the North Atlantic. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 55: 369-389

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

Naef, A. 1923. Die Cephalopoden, Systematik. Fauna und Flora des Golfes von Neapel 35 1: 1-863

Rancurel, P. 1970. Les contenus stomacaux d'Alepisaurus ferox dans le sud-ouest Pacifique (Céphalopodes). Cahiers O.R.S.T.O.M. Serie Océanographique 8(4): 4-87

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Roper, C.F.E. & Young, R.E. 1975. Vertical distribution of pelagic cephalopods. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 209: 1-51

Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392

Tryon, G.W. Jr 1879. Cephalopoda. Manual of Conchology. 1: 1–316. 1-316 pp.

Zeidler, W. 1989. The pelagic octopus Tremoctopus violaceus Delle Chiaje, 1830, from southern Australian waters. Veliger 32(2): 166-170

History of changes

• Tremoctopus Delle Chiaje, S. 1830. Memoire sulla storia e notomia degli animali senza vertebre del regno di Napoli. Vol. 1 pls 70–89. Napoli. [pl. 70].

  Type species:

   Tremoctopus violaceus Delle Chiaje, 1830 by monotypy.

  Secondary source:

   Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392 [355].

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Distribution References

General References

Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392 [355]

History of changes

• Octopus gracilis Souleyet, 1852 [invalid name].

Taxonomic Decision for Subspecies Arrangement

• Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

Extra Distribution Information

Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea between 40°N and 35°S.

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [82] (Blanket Octopus)

History of changes

• Tremoctopus violaceus gracilis Eydoux, J.F. & Souleyet, F.L. 1852. Voyage autour du Monde exécuté pendent les années 1836 et 1837, sur la corvette la Bonite, commandée par M. Vaillant. Zoologie. 2: 7–36. [13].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) (Pacific Ocean) [08°N 106°W]; MNHP 5-8-1106 ♂ (5.7 mm ML), (Pacific Ocean) [08°N 106°W].

  Secondary source:

   Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

IMCRA

Southeast Transition (11), Central Eastern Province (12), Tasman Basin Province (13), Central Eastern Transition (15), Kenn Transition (16), Kenn Province (17), Northeast Province (18), Northeast Transition (19), Cape Province (20)

Ecological Descriptors

Oceanic.

General References

Thomas, R.F. 1977. Systematics, distribution, and biology of cephalopods of the genus Tremoctopus (Octopoda: Tremoctopodidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 27: 353-392

History of changes

History of changes

• OCTOPODIDAE D'Orbigny, A. in Férussac, A. de & d'Orbigny, A. 1839. Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des cephalopodes acetabulifères vivants et fossiles. Paris : Libraire F. Savy.

  Type genus:

   Octopus Cuvier, 1798.

Introduction

Octopodids are eight-armed cephalopods with muscular to gelatinous bodies. The arms are equipped with one or two rows of suckers without chitinous sucker rings. Animals of this family are benthic, found from the Arctic to the Antarctic and from the littoral to the abyssal zone.

The Octopodidae D'Orbigny, 1845, and particularly the genus Octopus, are very diverse. Worldwide 23 genera have been erected (11 occur in Australian waters) and over 150 species described (Jereb et al., 2016, WoRMs, 2024), with 45 species known from Australia. The taxonomy of the family is unstable—many described species are poorly delineated and many other new species are in the process of being described.

Despite the long history of studies on octopus of the Mediterranean—dating from Aristotle—more critical work began only in the 18th century. The genus Octopus was erected by Lamarck in 1798. Blainville (1826) made the first attempt to treat the group comprehensively and d'Orbigny (in Férussac & d'Orbigny 1835–1848) provided the first critical work on the group. Subsequently, many other workers such as Gray (1849), Tryon (1879), Appellöf, Wülker, Naef, Joubin, Berry, and Sasaki, all added to knowledge of the group. In 1929 Robson published his monograph on Octopodinae, laying the foundation for future comparisons. In recent years, Pickford and Voss have both contributed extensively to our knowledge of Octopodidae. More recently, Hochberg et al. (1991) provided an extensive identification guide to larval octopods, and literature on the order Octopoda.

The first scientific report relating to Octopus from Australia is that of Lesueur (1821), who mentioned two octopus as Sepia boscii and Sepia peronii. As both names were published without accompanying descriptions, reference to the type material or illustrations, they were considered nomina nuda by Robson (1929). Blainville (1826) assigned the names Octopus caerulescens, O. pustulosus and O. variolatus to Lesueur and Peron's specimens from Dorre Island, Shark Bay, Western Australia. Blainville's descriptions were brief and no type material was mentioned. The taxa cannot be recognised and also must be considered nomina dubia. Quoy and Gaimard (1832), Gray (1849) and E.A. Smith (1884) all contributed to knowledge of the Australian octopod fauna, describing Octopus superciliosus from Westernport Bay, and Octopus lunulata from New Ireland, Octopus cyanea and O. polyzenia from northern Australia, and Octopus tenebricus from Port Denison, Queensland.

The lists of Cox (1882) and Brazier (1892), though extensive for the period, serve little useful purpose today, due to the state of taxonomic knowledge at the time.

In 1928, Robson described a new octopodid genus, Grimpella, based on a single male specimen from Port Lincoln, South Australia. Robson placed the genus in the subfamily Bathypolypodinae.

Little progress was made on the studies of Australian octopod fauna for several decades after Robson's (1928, 1929) contributions. Lu & Phillips (1985) compiled the list of octopods known from Australian waters and pointed out that the list should be regarded as tentative only, and that the taxonomy of Australian Octopodidae was desperately in need of comprehensive studies.

In 1990, Stranks described three new species from south-eastern Australia, and Lu & Stranks (1991) described a new species, Eledone palari, from the slope waters of Australia, the first record of Eledone outside the Atlantic Ocean. More recently, Norman, through a series of articles and his dissertation (Norman 1991, 1992a, 1992b, 1993a, 1993b, 1993c) described many new octopodid taxa from the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, and examined the classification and biogeography of the taxa involved.

Octopodids have degenerate shells or lack a shell completely; in species with a shell vestige, it is represented by a pair of cartilage-like stylets embedded in the mantle. The body is globular in shape and lacks fins, which makes movement by jet propulsion inefficient. The muscular arms with suckers are better suited for the more frequently used mode of locomotion—crawling on the bottom of the sea. The adhesive suckers are used to pull the animal along or anchor it to the substratum.

Octopodids feed mainly on crustaceans, particularly crabs and molluscs, but also prey on other animals such as polychaete worms and fishes. Joll (1977) reported that Octopus djinda (formerley known as O. tetricus), in Western Australia, consumed about 200 000 pot-caught rock lobsters per year. Norman (1992b) reported that the majority of the Great Barrier Reef octopodids prey upon crustaceans, particularly brachyuran crabs; some species exhibit greater preferences for other prey species, among them hermit crabs and bivalves, and several species are cannibalistic. Elsewhere, Hapalochlaena fasciata (as H. maculosa) has also been reported to be cannibalistic (Tranter & Augustine 1973). Mangold (1983) and Boletzky & Hanlon (1983) reviewed the diets of octopodids both under natural conditions and in captivity.

Octopodids kill their prey using the secretion produced in the posterior salivary glands. The toxin appears to be able to penetrate the crab without any wound being made in the carapace of the victim (Ghiretti 1959, 1960). The toxin produced by the blue-ringed octopus is known to cause death in victims who have been bitten (Flecker & Cotton 1955; Croft & Howden 1972; Savage & Howden 1977).

External digestion is involved in the feeding process. Bidder (1966) believes that the body contents of crabs are reduced almost to soup by the enzymes in octopus saliva; the soupy contents of crabs are swallowed, leaving the exoskeleton almost intact.

Octopodids are also capable of boring holes in the shells of molluscs; they then eat the mollusc flesh. Arnold and Arnold (1969) described hole-boring predation by Octopus vulgaris on gastropods. The salivary papilla of Octopus is covered by a thin cuticle, forming very small teeth; larger teeth are present at the extremity of the salivary duct which can be everted for drilling shells (Nixon 1980).

Octopuses are preyed on by many species. Clarke (1986) listed eight cetacean species that are reported to have remains of octopodids among their stomach contents. Gales et al. (1992) reported Octopus maorum in the stomach contents of the pilot whales and O. pallidus and O. australis as components of the diet of bottlenose dolphins from Tasmania. Octopus maorum, O. australis, O. superciliosus and O. pallidus have been found among the stomach contents of Australian fur seals from Tasmania (Gales et al. 1994).

Mature male octopodids have their third right arm hectocotylised and in some species have some enlarged suckers at the bases of the second and third pairs of arms. Apart from these, little external sexual dimorphism exists in the Octopodidae.

During mating, typically a female submits to the demands of the male who will sit on or beside the female caressing her head and abdomen with the hectocotylised arm. The spermatophores are passed to the female after the hectocotylised arm is inserted into the mantle cavity of the female. Copulation may continue for an hour or more (Wells 1978).

Eggs produced by octopodid species fall into two categories, large and small. Boletzky (1977, 1978, 1987) proposed that egg size relative to mantle length of adults provides an indication of hatchling behaviour. Small eggs produce planktonic larvae while large eggs produce young that take up the adult benthic mode of life. Species that have small eggs usually produce large numbers of eggs (several thousand to 500 000) while those producing large eggs, produce only few (50 to 1000).

Octopodids are semelparous: the animals die after reproducing once. Van Heukelem (1973) reported that females of Octopus cyanea die after the egg hatch, while the male may mate several times with several different females, but do not outlive the females. In Hawaiian waters this species spawns throughout the year. Van Heukelem (1973) believed that timing of spawning is determined by the age of the female.

The taxonomy of Australian Octopodidae is largely unresolved. Only limited information is available on distributions. According to Norman (1992b), factors such as egg size and hatchling behaviour, habitat specificity and continuity, currents and some biotic variables all influence octopodid distribution in the Australian Region. Historical factors such as changing sea levels and changes in sea water temperatures and the position of temperature boundaries between tropical and temperate waters may also contribute to the patterns of distribution.

The studies of Stranks (1988) and Norman (1992b) indicate that species diversity of the family Octopodidae in Australian waters is high and that a large number of the species are endemic to Australia.

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

OCTOPODIDAE: Hapalochlaena lunulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) [associated data: Octopus lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832, Quoy, J.R.C. & Gaimard, J.P. 1832. Mollusques. pp. 1–320 in, Zoologie du voyage de l'Astrolabe sous les ordres du Capitane Dumont d'Urville, pendant les années 1826–1829. Zoologie. 2 vols Paris : J. Tastu, Editeur-Imprimeur. [86]; type data: Holotype MNHP 4-12.973, New Ireland (as le havre Carteret, à la Nouvelle-Irlande); ecology: benthic, littoral, sublittoral] — Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [57] (recorded species from Australia: WA, NT, QLD); Norman, M.D. 2013. pers. comm. (excludes this species from Australian waters)

OCTOPODIDAE: Octopus aegina Gray, 1849 [associated data: Octopus aegina Gray, 1849, Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp. [7]; type data: Holotype BMNH 1928.2.14.1 ♀, unknown; secondary sources: Robson, G.C. 1928. Notes on the Cephalopoda. 4. On Octopus aegina Gray; with remarks on the systematic value of the octopod web. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10 1: 641-646; Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls] — Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [59] (states distribution from India to Philippines, but does not include Australia); Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [160] (lists the species as occurring in QLD)

OCTOPODIDAE: Octopus filamentosus Blainville, 1826 [associated data: Octopus filamentosus Blainville, 1826, Blainviile, H. de. 1826. Poulpe. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles 43: 170-214 [188]; type data: Status unknown, Mauritius (as l'Isle de France); secondary source: Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls] — Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [162] (species listed from SA); Norman, M.D. 2013. pers. comm. (excludes the species from Australian waters)

OCTOPODIDAE: Octopus macropus Risso, 1826 [associated data: Octopus macropus Risso, 1826, Risso, A. 1826. Histoire Naturelle des Principales Productions de l'Europe Méridionale et Particulièrement de Celles des Environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. Paris : Levrault Vol. 4 439 pp. [3]; type data: Holotype MNHNN (not traced), Mediterranean; secondary source: Voss, G.L. 1963. Cephalopods of the Philippine Islands. United States National Museum Bulletin 234: 1-180] — Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [162] (records the species from QLD, NSW, WA, but also states that these records are probably misidentifications)

OCTOPODIDAE: Octopus vulgaris Lamarck, 1798 [associated data: Octopus vulgaris Lamarck, 1798, Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de M. de 1798. Extrait d'un mémoire sur le genre de la sèche, du calmar et du poulpe, vulgairement nommés, polypes de mer. Bulletin des Sciences, par la Société Philomathique de Paris 2: 129-131 [130]; type data: Status unknown, unknown; secondary source: Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls] — Cox, J.C. 1882. Australian Octopodidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 6: 773-789 (the only record of Octopus vulgaris from Australian waters); Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [165] (specis listed, but Lu states that the Australian species may not be conspecific)

Diagnosis

The body is muscular to gelatinous. The eight arms are equipped with one or two rows of suckers without chitinous sucker rings. The webs connecting the arms are shallow to moderately deep. The mantle aperture is not reduced and the funnel-mantle locking apparatus is absent. Internally the digestive gland is located anterior to the stomach and caecum. The crop may be present or absent and the ink sac may be present, vestigial or absent.

General References

Adam, W. 1939. Céphalopoda. 2e Partie. II Revision des espèces Indo-Malaises du genre Sepia Linné, 1758. III. Revision du genre Sepiella (Gray) Steenstrup, 1880. Siboga-Expéditie Report 55b: 1-135

Arnold, J.M. & Arnold, K.O. 1969. Some aspects of hole-boring predation by Octopus vulgaris. American Naturalist 9: 991-996

Bidder, A.M. 1966. Feeding and digestion in Cephalopods. pp. 97-124 in Wilbur, K.M. & Yonge, C.M. (eds). Physiology of Mollusca. New York and London : Academic Press Vol. 2.

Blainville, H. de 1826. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles. Tom. 43.

Boletzky, S.v. 1977. Post-hatchling behaviour and mode of life in cephalopods. pp. 557–567 in Nixon, M. & Messenger, J.B. (eds) The Biology of Cephalopods. Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond. 38.

Boletzky, S.v. 1978. Nos connaissances actuelles sur le developement des octopodes. Vie et Milieu 28/29: 85-120

Boletzky, S.v. 1987. Juvenile behaviour. pp. 45-60 in Boyle, P.R. (ed.). Cephalopod Life Cycles. Vol. 2. Comparative Reviews. London : Academic Press xxi 441 pp.

Boletzky, S.v. & Hanlon, R.T. 1983. A review of the laboratory maintenance, rearing and culture of cephalopod molluscs. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 147-187

Brazier, J. 1892. Catalogue of the Marine Shells of Australia and Tasmania. Pt I. Cephalopoda; Pt II. Pteropoda. Sydney : Australian Museum Catalogue Vol. 15 42 pp.

Clarke, M.R. 1986. Cephalopods in the diet of odontocetes. pp. 281-321 in Bryden, M.M. & Harrison, R. (eds). Research on Dolphins. Oxford : Oxford University Press.

Cox, J.C. 1882. Australian Octopodidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 6: 773-789

Croft, J.A. & Howden, M.E.H. 1972. Chemistry of maculotoxin: a potent neurotoxin isolated from Hapalochlaena maculosa. Toxicon 10(6): 645-651

Férussac, A. de & d'Orbigny, A. 1848. Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des Céphalopodes Acétabulifères vivants et fossiles. 2 vols. Paris : J.-B. Baillière Libraire de l'Académie Nationale de Médecine 341pp. [dates 1835–1848]

Flecker, H. & Cotton, B.C. 1955. Fatal bite from Octopus. Medical Journal of Australia 2: 329-331

Gales, R., Pemberton, D., Clarke, M. & Lu, C.C. 1992. Stomach contents of long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tasmania. Marine Mammal Science 8(4): 405-413

Gales, R., Pemberton, D., Lu, C.C. & Clarke, M.R. 1993. Cephalopod diet of the Australian fur seal: variation due to location, season and sample type. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44: 657-671

Ghiretti, F. 1959. Cephalotoxin: the crab-paralysing agent of the posterior salivary glands of cephalopods. Nature (London) 183: 1192-1193

Ghiretti, F. 1960. Toxicity of octopus saliva against Crustacea. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 90: 726-741

Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp.

Heukelem, W.F.v. 1973. Growth and life-span of Octopus cyanea (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). J. Zool. Lond. 169:. Journal of Zoology, London 169: 299-315

Hochberg, F.G., Nixon, M. & Toll, R.B. 1992. Order Octopoda Leach, 1818. pp. 213-280 in Sweeney, M.J., Roper, C.F.E., Mangold, K.M., Clarke, M.R. & Boletzky, S.V. (eds). "Larval" and juvenile cephalopods: a manual for their identification. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 513: 1-282

Jereb, P., Roper, C.F.E., Norman, M.D. & Finn, J.K. (Eds) 2016. Cephalopods of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. 4 Rome : FAO Vol. 3 pp. 352.

Joll, L.M. 1977. The predation of pot-caught western rock lobster (Panulirus longipes cygnus) by Octopus. Report of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Western Australia 29: 1-58

Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de M. de 1798. Extrait d'un mémoire sur le genre de la sèche, du calmar et du poulpe, vulgairement nommés, polypes de mer. Bulletin des Sciences, par la Société Philomathique de Paris 2: 129-131

Lesueur, C.A. 1821. Descriptions of several new species of cuttlefish. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 86-101

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36

Lu, C.C. & Stranks, T.N. 1991. Eledone palari, a new species of octopus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from Australia. Bulletin of Marine Science 49(1/2): 73-87

Mangold, K. 1983. Food, feeding and growth in cephalopods. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 44: 81-93

Nesis, K.N. 1982. Cephalopods of the World. English Translation from Russian. Levitov, B.S. (Transl.), Burgess, L.A. (ed.) (1987) Neptune City : T.F.H. Publications, Inc. 351 pp. [English Translation from Russian]

Nixon, M. 1980. The salivary papilla of Octopus as an accessory radula for drilling shells. Journal of Zoology, London 190: 53-57

Norman, M.D. 1991. Octopus cyanea Gray, 1849 (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in Australian waters: description, distribution and taxonomy. Bulletin of Marine Science 49(1–2): 20-38

Norman, M.D. 1992a. Ameloctopus litoralis, gen. et sp. nov. (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), a new shallow-water octopus from tropical Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 567-582

Norman, M.D. 1992b. Systematics and biogeography of the shallow-water octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 281 pp. pls & figs.

Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]c. Ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: description of two new species and redescription of Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 309-344 [imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993]

Norman, M.D. 1993a. Octopus ornatus Gould, 1852 (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in Australian waters: morphology, distribution, and life history. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 106(4): 645-660

Norman, M.D. 1993b. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993]

Quoy, J.R.C. & Gaimard, J.P. 1832. Mollusques Zoology du voyage de l'Astrolabe sous les ordres du Capitiane Dumont d'Urville, pendant les années 1826–29. 2 Vols. Paris : J. Tastu.

Robson, G.C. 1928. Notes on the Cephalopoda. 6. On Grimpella, a new genus of Octopoda, with remarks on the classification of the Octopodinae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10 2: 108-114

Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Savage, I.V.E. & Howden, M.E.H. 1977. Hapalotoxin, a second lethal toxin from the octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa. Toxicon 15: 463-466

Smith, E.A. 1884. Mollusca. pp. 34–116, 487–508, 657–659, pls 4–7. In, Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of the H.M.S. 'Alert ' 1881-2. London : British Museum Trustees, printed by Taylor & Francis. [Part I. Collections of Melanesia, pp. 34–116; Part II. Collections from the Western Indian Ocean, pp. 487–508; explanation of plates pp. 657–659]

Stranks, T.N. 1988. Systematics of the family Octopodidae (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) of south-eastern Australia. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 114 pp.

Stranks, T.N. 1990. Three new species of Octopus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from south-eastern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 50(2): 457-465

Tranter, J.H. & Augustine, O. 1978. Observations on the life history of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa. Marine Biology, Berlin 18: 115-128

Tryon, G.W. Jr 1879. Cephalopoda. Manual of Conchology. 1: 1–316. 1-316 pp.

Wells, M.J. 1978. "Octopus": Physiology and Behaviour of an Advanced Invertebrate. London : Chapman & Hall.

History of changes

• Abdopus Norman, M.D. & Finn, J. 2001. Revision of the Octopus horridus species group with description of two member species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 13-35 [14] (as a subgenus of Octopus).

  Type species:

   Abdopus horridus D'Orbigny, 1826 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus aculeatus Férussac, A. de & d'Orbigny, A. 1834. [1835–1848] Histoire naturelle générale et particulière des cephalopodes acetabulifères vivants et fossiles. Paris : Libraire F. Savy.
• Octopus harmandi Rochebrune, A.T. d' 1882. Documents sur la fauna malacologique de la Cochinchine et du Cambodge. Bulletin de la Société Philomathique de Paris 7 6(1): 35-74.

Generic Combinations

• Abdopus aculeatus (D'Orbigny, 1834). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Octopus (Abdopus) aculeatus d'Orbigny, 1834. —
  Norman, M.D. & Finn, J. 2001. Revision of the Octopus horridus species group with description of two member species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 13-35 [18] (subgeneric placement)

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus (Abdopus) capricornicus Norman, M.D. & Finn, J. 2001. Revision of the Octopus horridus species group with description of two member species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 13-35 [24].

  Type data:

   Holotype MV F67020 1♂, Tryon Island, Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, Australia [23°15´S 151°47´E].
  Paratype(s) MV F83637 1♂, Tryon Island, Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, Australia [23°15´S 151°47´E]; MV F67021 1♂, Tryon Island, Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, Australia [23°15´S 151°47´E].

Generic Combinations

• Abdopus capricornicus (Norman & Finn, 2001). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40)

History of changes

• Octopus tenebricus Smith, E.A. 1884. Mollusca. pp. 34–116, 487–508, 657–659, pls 4–7. In, Report on the Zoological Collections made in the Indo-Pacific Ocean during the voyage of the H.M.S. 'Alert ' 1881-2. London : British Museum Trustees, printed by Taylor & Francis. [Part I. Collections of Melanesia, pp. 34–116; Part II. Collections from the Western Indian Ocean, pp. 487–508; explanation of plates pp. 657–659] [35].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) BMNH 1881.11.10.13-14 ♂ ♀, Port Denison, QLD.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Generic Combinations

• Abdopus tenebricus (Smith, 1884). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Port Denison.

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40)

General References

Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] [164] (as Octopus tenebricus Smith, 1884)

Norman, M.D. & Finn, J. 2001. Revision of the Octopus horridus species group with description of two member species from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 13-35 [30] (as Octopus tenebricus Smith, 1884)

History of changes

• Ameloctopus Norman, M.D. 1992. Ameloctopus litoralis, gen. et sp. nov. (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), a new shallow-water octopus from tropical Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 567-582 [567].

  Type species:

   Ameloctopus litoralis Norman, 1992 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Ameloctopus litoralis Norman, M.D. 1992. Ameloctopus litoralis, gen. et sp. nov. (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), a new shallow-water octopus from tropical Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy 6: 567-582 [569].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F57917, Orpheus Is., Pioneer Bay, depth 0.1 m [18°36'S 146°29'E].

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Northern Territory: Gulf of Carpentaria, N coast
  • Queensland: Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Carpentaria, NE coast
  • Western Australia: N coast, NW coast

Ecological Descriptors

Intertidal.

Extra Ecological Information

At low tide in lair in sand, amongst large soft corals.

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [54] (Banded String-arm Octopus)

History of changes

• Amphioctopus Fischer, P. 1882. Manuel de Conchyliologie et de paléontologie conchyliologique on histoire naturelle des mollusques vivants et fossiles. Paris : Librairie F. Savy 1369 pp.

  Type species:

   Octopus membranaceus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 by original designation.
• Schizoctopus Hoyle, W.E. 1886. Report on the Cephalopoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 16(44): 1-245 pls 1-33.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Huffard, C.L. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. Description of a new species of the genus Amphioctopus (Mollusca: Octopodidae) from the Hawai'ian Islands. Molluscan Research 25(3): 113-128

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus kagoshimensis Ortmann, A. 1888. Japanische Cephalopoden. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik 3: 639-670.

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MZUS 7 syntypes, Japan, Kagoshima.

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus kagoshimensis (Ortmann, 1888). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Introduction

Conspecificity with Japanese form yet to be confirmed.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Southern Queensland (One Tree Island) south to Tathra, New South Wales.

IMCRA

Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

History of changes

• Octopus exannulatus Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: description of two new species and redescription of Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 309-344 [imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [321].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F60143 ♂ (46.7 mm), Moreton Bay, 3 mi (5 km) N of E corner of Mud Is. (ca. 27°23'S 153°15'E).
  Paratype(s) NMV F60105 ♀ (41.8 mm); NMV F60107 ♀; QM Mo29473 ♂ (39.8 mm); QM Mo29329 ♀ (48 mm); USNM 817673 ♂ (41.5 mm).
• Octopus membranaceus Quoy, J.R.C. & Gaimard, J.P. 1832. Mollusques. pp. 1–320 in, Zoologie du voyage de l'Astrolabe sous les ordres du Capitane Dumont d'Urville, pendant les années 1826–1829. Zoologie. 2 vols Paris : J. Tastu, Editeur-Imprimeur. [891] (considered nomen dubium by Norman (1993: 340)).

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP, Port Dorey, New Guinea (as port Dorey, à la Nouvelle Guinée).

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus exannulatus (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Shark Bay, WA.

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: Central E coast, Great Barrier Reef, Gulf of Carpentaria, NE coast
  • Western Australia: NW coast

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, continental shelf, tropical.

General References

Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36 [33] (synonymy)

Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: description of two new species and redescription of Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 309-344 [imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [340]

History of changes

• Octopus marginatus Taki, I. 1964. On eleven new species of the Cephalopoda from Japan. Including two new genera of Octopodinae. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University 5(2): 297-343.
• Octopus striolatus Dong, Z. 1976. On three new species of the genus Octopus (Octopoda: Cephalopoda) from Chinese waters. Studia Marina Sinica 11: 211-215.

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus marginatus (Taki, 1964). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus mototi Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: description of two new species and redescription of Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 309-344 [imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [329].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F60101 ♂ (66.2 mm), Capricorn Bunker Group, Heron Island, 31 m [23°50'S 152°25'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F60102 ♀ (58.6 mm); AM C154277 ♀ (73.3 mm); QM Mo29325 ♀ (76.7 mm); USNM 817681 ♂ (70.5 mm).

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus mototi (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Coral Sea, coastal.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: Great Barrier Reef, NE coast

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, inshore, predator.

Juvenile: continental shelf, planktonic.

Continental shelf, inshore, predator.

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [69] (Poison Ocellate Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus polyzenia Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp. [13].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1845.5.14.78 ♂ adult, Port Essington, NT [11°16'S 132°09'E].

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus polyzenia (Gray, 1849). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

20°01'S 148°15'E, Dampier Archipelago, ca. 20°29'S 116°35'E.

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, continental shelf.

General References

Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia: description of two new species and redescription of Octopus polyzenia Gray, 1849. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 309-344 [imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [320] (considered Australian records not conspecific with O. rugosa Bosc, 1792 or O. granulatus Lamarck, 1798 distribution with which O. polyzenia was synonymised by Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp. 7 pls., and thus removed O. polyzenia from synonymy)

History of changes

• Octopus rex Nateewathana, A. & Norman, M.D. 1999. On three new species of ocellate octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) from Thai waters. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 19(2): 445-462.

Generic Combinations

• Amphioctopus rex (Nateewathana & Norman, 1999). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26)

History of changes

• Callistoctopus Taki, I. 1964. On eleven new species of the Cephalopoda from Japan. Including two new genera of Octopodinae. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University 5(2): 297-343.

  Type species:

   Callistoctopus arakawai Taki, 1964 by original designation (junior synonym of Callistoctopus ornatus).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus alpheus Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [270].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F57930 ♂ (74.2 mm), Tryon Is., Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, 0.1–0.2 mm [23°15'S 151°47'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F60100 ♂ ♀ (61.9, 70.1 mm), Tryon Is., Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, 0.1–0.2 mm [23°15'S 151°47'E]; NMV F65660 ♀ (78.2 mm), Tryon Is., Capricorn Bunker Group, QLD, 0.1–0.2 mm [23°15'S 151°47'E].

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus alpheus (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, continental shelf, nocturnal, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, continental shelf.

Continental shelf.

General References

Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] (life history, behaviour, distribution)

History of changes

• Octopus aspilosomatis Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [279].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F67001 ♂ (42.1 mm), Russell Is., Frankland Group, QLD, <0.1 m [17°14'S 146°06'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F60148 ♂ (42.2 mm), Casuarina Beach, Lizard Is., QLD, 0.1 m [14°41'S 145°27'E]; NMV F60149 ♂ (44.7 mm), Coconut Beach, Lizard Is., Tryon Is., QLD, <0.1 m [14°40'S 145°28'E]; NMV F60147 ♀ (56.8 mm), Russell Is., Frankland Group, QLD, <0.1 m [17°14'S 146°06'E]; NMV F60145 ♀ (67.1 mm), Casuarina Beach, Lizard Is., QLD, 0.1 m [14°41'S 145°27'E].

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus aspilosomatis (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, continental shelf, nocturnal, predator.

Juvenile: continental shelf, planktonic.

Continental shelf.

General References

Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] (life history, behaviour, distribution)

History of changes

• Octopus bunurong Stranks, T.N. 1990. Three new species of Octopus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from south-eastern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 50(2): 457-465 [462].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F53223 ♂, adult (55.0 mm), Townsend Point, Wilsons Promontory, VIC [38°49'S 140°16'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F53221 ♀, adults (45.5 mm); SAM D17986 ♂, adult (93.2 mm); SAM D17983 ♂, adult (40.3 mm); NMV F57445 ♂ (37.5 mm).

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, continental shelf, inshore, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, continental shelf, inshore.

Continental shelf, inshore, predator.

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [63] (Southern White-spot Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus dierythraeus Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [282].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F67007 ♂ (135.0 mm), off W coast of Cape York, Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, 57 m [10°51'S 140°27'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F60129 ♂ (59.8 mm), Orpheus Is., Cattle Bay, QLD, 1.5 m [18°34'S 146°29'E]; NMV F60127 ♂ (89.1 mm), Lizard Is., Watsons Bay, Coby Hole, QLD, 16 m [14°40'S 145°28'E]; NMV F60128 ♀ (118.8 mm), Sarina Beach, QLD, 0.3 m [21°24'S 149°19'E].

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus dierythraeus (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, continental shelf, nocturnal, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, continental shelf.

Continental shelf.

General References

Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [282] (life history, behaviour, distribution)

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [65] (Red-spot Night Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus graptus Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] [296].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F67006 ♀ (88.8 mm), Cleveland Bay, Townsville, QLD, trawl [19°11'S 147°01'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F67008 ♀ (107.0 mm), Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, 32 m [16°09'S 138°51'E]; NMV F67009 ♂ (111.6 mm), 0.3 miles (0.6 km) S of Lucinda Warf, QLD, 15–17 m [~18°32'S 146°22'E].

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus graptus (Norman, 1993). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Timor Transition (1), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, continental shelf, nocturnal, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, continental shelf.

Continental shelf.

General References

Norman, M.D. 1993. Four new octopus species of the Octopus macropus group (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 267-308 [Date published 1993: imprint date 31 December 1992; available 1993] (life history, behaviour, distribution)

History of changes

• Octopus ornatus Gould, A.A. 1852. Mollusca of the United States Exploring Expedition under Captain Charles Wilkes. Mollusca of the Wilkes Expedition 12: 1-510 pls 1-52.
• Callistoctopus arakawai Taki, I. 1964. On eleven new species of the Cephalopoda from Japan. Including two new genera of Octopodinae. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University 5(2): 297-343.

  Secondary source:

   Norman, M.D. 1993. Octopus ornatus Gould, 1852 (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in Australian waters: morphology, distribution, and life history. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 106(4): 645-660.

Generic Combinations

• Callistoctopus ornatus (Gould, 1852). —
  Norman, M.D. & Hochberg, F.G. 2005. The current state of octopus taxonomy. Phuket Marine Biological Center Special Publication 66: 127-154

Distribution

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Ecological Descriptors

Marine.

History of changes

• Galeoctopus Norman, M.D., Boucher R. & Hochberg, F.G. 2004. The Sharkclub Octopus, Galeoctopus lateralis, a new genus and species of deep-water octopus from the western Pacific Ocean (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Journal of Molluscan Studies 70: 247-256.

  Type species:

   Galeoctopus lateralis Norman, Boucher & Hochberg, 2004 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Tropical central and western Pacific Ocean

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15)

History of changes

• Galeoctopus lateralis Norman, M.D., Boucher R. & Hochberg, F.G. 2004. The Sharkclub Octopus, Galeoctopus lateralis, a new genus and species of deep-water octopus from the western Pacific Ocean (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Journal of Molluscan Studies 70: 247-256.

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHNN 3787 1♂, Tonga, North Kotu group, 417-424 m [19°52'S 174°42'W].
  Paratype(s) MNHNN 2115 1♂, Loyaute Ridge, off Lifou Island, New Caledonia, 380 m [20°47'S 167°05'E]; MNHNN 2118 1♂, east coast, New Caledonia, 410-430 [20°35'S 164°58'E]; MNHNN 3786 1♂, North Ha’apai group, Tonga, 391-402 m [19°42'S 174°31'W]; MNHNN 2114 1♂, south of Espiritu Santo Island, Vanuatu, 398-400 m [15°41'S 167°02'E]; MNHNN 3771 1♂, south-east Vanua Levu, Fiji, 360-380 m [16°39'S 179°37'E]; MV F76981 1♀, off Great Barrier Reef, east of Tully, 220 m [18°00'S 147°01'E]; MV F97380 1♂, off Great Barrier Reef, east of Tully, QLD, 300-302 m [17°59'S 147°05'E- 17°59'S 146°06'E]; MV F97379 1♂, off Great Barrier Reef, east of Tully, QLD, Australia, 220 m [17°59'S 147°01'E- 17°57'S 146°58'E]; MNHNN unreg. 1♂, Makassar Strait, Indonesia, 252-215 m [1°57S 119°15'E]; MNHNN unreg. 1♀, Makassar Strait, Indonesia, 180-220 m [1°57S 119°15'E].

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Tropical central and western Pacific Ocean (Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Australia (Coral Sea), Makassar Strait (Indonesia) and the Philippines

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15)

Ecological Descriptors

Marine.

Extra Ecological Information

Slope depths, c. 200-430 m

History of changes

• Grimpella Robson, G.C. 1928. Notes on the Cephalopoda. 6. On Grimpella, a new genus of Octopoda, with remarks on the classification of the Octopodinae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10 2: 108-114 [108].

  Type species:

   Grimpella thaumastocheir Robson, 1928 by original designation.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33)

General References

Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls. [253]

History of changes

• Grimpella thaumastocheir Robson, G.C. 1928. Notes on the Cephalopoda. 6. On Grimpella, a new genus of Octopoda, with remarks on the classification of the Octopodinae. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 10 2: 108-114 [108].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH 1928.4.3.1 ♂, Port Lincoln, SA.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33)

Ecological Descriptors

Coastal.

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [55] (Velvet Octopus)

History of changes

• Hapalochlaena Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [207].

  Type species:

   Octopus lunulatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 by original designation.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-Malay region.

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Distribution References

General References

Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [207]

History of changes

• Octopus pictus fasciata Hoyle, W.E. 1886. Report on the Cephalopoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 16(44): 1-245 pls 1-33.

Generic Combinations

• Hapalochlaena fasciata (Hoyle, 1886). —
  Adam, W. 1939. The Cephalopoda in the Indian Museum, Calcutta. Records of the Indian Museum 41: 61-110

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IMCRA

Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Ecological Descriptors

Marine.

History of changes

• Octopus maculosus Hoyle, W.E. 1883. On a new species of Octopus (O. maculosus). Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh 7: 319-322 pl. 6 [319].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMWZ, Sydney, NSW (probable).
• Octopus pictus Brock, J. 1882. Zur Anatomie und Systematik der Cephalopoden. Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie 36: 543-610 pls 34-37 [603] [junior homonym of Octopus pictus Blainville, 1828].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.
• Octopus robustus Brock, J. 1887. Zur Systematik der Cephalopoden. Nachrichten von der Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen 11: 317-322 [317].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [211]

Generic Combinations

• Hapalochlaena maculosa (Hoyle, 1883). —
  Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Central E coast, Lower E coast
  • South Australia: Great Australian Bight, S Gulfs coast
  • Tasmania: Tas. coast
  • Western Australia: Lower W coast, SW coast

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, littoral, sublittoral.

General References

Overath, H. & Boletzky, S. von 1974. Laboratory observations on spawning and embryonic development of a blue-ringed octopus. Marine Biology, Berlin 27: 333-377

Tranter, J.H. & Augustine, O. 1978. Observations on the life history of the blue-ringed octopus Hapalochlaena maculosa. Marine Biology, Berlin 18: 115-128

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [58] (Southern Blue-ringed Octopus)

History of changes

• Histoctopus Norman, M.D. Boucher-Rodoni, R. & Hochberg, F.G. 2009. A new genus and two new species of mesobenthic octopuses from Australia and New Caledonia. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75: 323–336 [325].

  Type species:

   Histoctopus zipkasae Norman, Boucher-Rodoni & Hochberg, 2009 by original designation.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Northwest Shelf and Norfolk Ridge, south of New Caledonia

IMCRA

Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6)

History of changes

• Histoctopus zipkasae Norman, M.D. Boucher-Rodoni, R. & Hochberg, F.G. 2009. A new genus and two new species of mesobenthic octopuses from Australia and New Caledonia. Journal of Molluscan Studies 75: 323–336.

  Type data:

   Holotype MV F164025 1♂, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 404 m [18°44'S 117°00'E].
  Paratype(s) MV F164024 1♂, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 375 m [18°25'S 117°48'E]; MV F164034 1♂, 2♀, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 420 m [17°45'S, 118°32'E]; MV F164031 1♂, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 380 m [18°33'S, 117°53'E]; MV F164035 1♀, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 458 m [18°53'S, 116°10'E]; MV F164020 1♂, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 411 m [16°59'S, 120°10'E]; MV F164036 2♀, Northwest Shelf, Western Australia, Australia, 376 m [18°01'S, 118°23'E].

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Off Western Australia from Perth Canyon to Northwest Shelf, trawled at depths of 375-458 m

IMCRA

Central Western Transition (5), Central Western Province (6)

History of changes

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

History of changes

• Octopus maorum Hutton, F.W. 1880. Manual of the New Zealand Mollusca. Wellington : Colonial Museum and Geological Survey Department 224 pp. [1].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) CMNZ, Dunedin, New Zealand;
  Status unknown, OMNZ, Dunedin, New Zealand.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [174].
• Octopus flindersi Cotton, B.C. 1932. Notes on Australian Mollusca, with descriptions of new genera and new species. Records of the South Australian Museum (Adelaide) 4: 537-547 [543].

  Type data:

   Holotype SAMA D10169 ♂ (176 mm), Largs Bay, SA [34°49'S 138°29'E].

  Secondary source:

   Zeidler, W. 1983. The cephalopod collection in the South Australian Museum. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 44: 77-79.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Stranks, T.S. 1998. The systematic and nomenclatural status of the Octopodinae described from Australia (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 586: 529-547 [536]

Generic Combinations

• Macroctopus maorum (Hutton, 1880). —
  Norman, M.D., Finn, J.K. & Hochberg, F.G. 2014. Family Octopodidae. pp.36-215 in Jereb, P., Roper, C., Norman, M., & Finn, J. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. Rome, Italy : FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes pp. 353. [199]

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, inshore, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, inshore.

Paralarva: planktonic.

Inshore, predator.

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [67] (Maori Octopus)

History of changes

• Polypus Schneider, J.G. 1784. Characteristik des ganzen Geschlechts und der einzelnen Arten von Blackfischen. pp. 105–134 in, Sammlung vermischter Abhandlungen zur Aufklärung der Zoologie und der Handlungsgeschichte. Berlin xvi 348 pp. 1 pl. [116] [type species unknown].
• Octopus Lamarck, J.B.P.A. de M. de 1798. Extrait d'un mémoire sur le genre de la sèche, du calmar et du poulpe, vulgairement nommés, polypes de mer. Bulletin des Sciences, par la Société Philomathique de Paris 2: 129-131 [130] [for justificationfor using the name Octopus in favour of the older name, Polypus, see Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp. 7 pls. [56]].

  Type species:

   Octopus vulgaris Lamarck, 1798 by indication (type species is the first mentioned species, see (Hoyle, W.E., 1910) [411]).

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [56]

Introduction

Amor & Hart (2021) described a new species belonging to the Octopus vulgaris group, a major octopus fisheries target. The new species Octopus djinda Amor, 2021 (previously treated as O. cf. tetricus and O. aff. tetricus) was described from the shallow waters off southwest Australia.

Excluded Taxa

Misidentifications

OCTOPODIDAE: Octopus cordiformis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832) — Iredale, T. & McMichael, D.F. 1962. A reference list of the marine Mollusca of New South Wales. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 11: 1–109 [100] (lists the species as Pinnoctopus cordiformis Quoy & Gaimard, 1832); Roper, C.F.E. 1983. An overview of cephalopod systematics: status, problems and recommendations. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 44: 13-27 [19] (species listed); Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21-36 [33] (states "no Australian record of the species is known")

OCTOPODIDAE: Pinnoctopus cordiformis Quoy & Gaimard, 1832 [see Octopus cordiformis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1832)]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Cosmopolitan.

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15), Northeast Province (18), Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

General References

Amor, M.D. & Hart, A.M. 2021. Octopus djinda (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): a new member of the Octopus vulgaris group from southwest Australia. Zootaxa 5061(1): 145-156

History of changes

• Octopus australis Hoyle, W.E. 1885. Diagnoses of new species of Cephalopoda collected during the cruise of H.M.S. Challenger. Pt 1. The Octopoda. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 15: 222-236 [224].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1889.4.24.28.9 ♀ juv., Port Jackson, NSW [33°50'S 151°17'W].
  Paralectotype(s) BMNH 1889.4.24.28.9 ♂.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Tait, R.W. 1982. A taxonomic revision of Octopus australis Hoyle, 1885 (Octopodidae: Cephalopoda) with a redescription of the species. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 43: 15-23 pl. 1.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, continental shelf.

General References

Stranks, T.N. & Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Review of the Octopus australis complex from Australia and New Zealand, with description of a new species (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 345-373 [346] (redescription)

Tait, R.W. 1982. A taxonomic revision of Octopus australis Hoyle, 1885 (Octopodidae: Cephalopoda) with a redescription of the species. Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria, Melbourne 43: 15-23 pl. 1 [15]

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [61] (Hammer Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus berrima Stranks, T.N. & Norman, M.D. 1992 [1993]. Review of the Octopus australis complex from Australia and New Zealand, with description of a new species (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Memoirs of Museum Victoria 53(2): 345-373 [355].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F67132 male, off Mordialloc, Port Phillip Bay, VIC, Australia [38°02'S 145°05'E].

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

History of changes

• Octopus bocki Adam, W. 1941. Notes sur les céphalopodes. Part XIV. - Sur une nouvelle espèce d'Octopode (Octopus bocki sp. nov.) des Iles Fidji. Bulletin du Musée Royal d'Histoire Naturelle du Belgique tome XVII(35): 1-3.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Province (40)

History of changes

• Octopus bulbus Norman, M.D. 2001. New octopus species from Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 46(2): 677-690 [680].

  Type data:

   Holotype MV F87067 1♂, east of Moololaba, 16-20 miles N of Cape Moreton, QLD, Australia, 166-195 m.
  Paratype(s) MV F87068 1♂, east of Noosa, QLD, Australia, 116 m; MV F87069 1♀, off Moololaba, QLD, Australia, 18.4 m.

Distribution

States

Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Off southern Queensland, 19-195 m

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15)

History of changes

• Octopus caerulescens Blainviile, H. de. 1826. Poulpe. Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles 43: 170-214 [189] [nomen dubium; nom. dub., see Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp. 7 pls].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Dorre Is., Shark Bay, WA (as île-de-Dorre).

Introduction

Nomen dubium.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Province (29)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, inshore.

General References

Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

History of changes

• Tritaxeopus cornutus Owen, R. 1881. Descriptions of some new and rare Cephalopoda. Pt 2. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London 11: 131-170 pls 23-35 [131] [nomen dubium].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Australia.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Generic Combinations

• Octopus cornutus (Owen, 1881). —
  Robson, G.C. 1932. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 2. The Octopoda (excluding the Octopodinae). London : British Museum (Natural History) 359 pp. 6 pls.

Introduction

Nomen dubium.

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

History of changes

• Octopus cyanea Gray, J.E. 1849. Catalogue of the Mollusca in the Collection of the British Museum. 1. Cephalopoda Antepedia. London : British Museum (Natural History) 164 pp. [15].

  Type data:

   Lectotype BMNH 1928.2.4.1 ♂, Australia (as coast of New Holland).

  Subsequent designation references:

  Norman, M.D. 1992. Octoopus cyanea Gray, 1849 (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in Australian waters: description, distribution and taxonomy. Bulletin of Marine Science 49(1–2): 20-38.
• Octopus marmoratus Hoyle, W.E. 1885. Diagnoses of new species of Cephalopoda collected during the cruise of H.M.S. Challenger. Pt 1. The Octopoda. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 15: 222-236.
• Octopus horsti Joubin, L. 1898. Sur quelques céphalopodes du Musée Royal de Leyde et descriptions de trois espèces nouvelles. Notes from the Leyden Museum 20: 21-28.
• Polypus herdmani Hoyle, W.E. 1904. Report on the Pearl Fisheries of the Gulf of Manaar, Part II. Report on the Ceylon Pearl Oyster Fisheries, Supplementary Reports 14: 185-200.
• Callistoctopus magnocellatus Taki, I. 1964. On eleven new species of the Cephalopoda from Japan. Including two new genera of Octopodinae. Journal of the Faculty of Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, Hiroshima University 5(2): 297-343.

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, inshore.

General References

Heukelem, W.F. 1983. Octopus cyanea. pp. 267-276 in Boyle, P.R. (ed.). Cephalopod Life Cycles. Vol. 1. Species Accounts. London : Academic Press xvii 474 pp. (life history)

Norman, M.D. 1992. Octoopus cyanea Gray, 1849 (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in Australian waters: description, distribution and taxonomy. Bulletin of Marine Science 49(1–2): 20-38 (morphology, distribution)

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [64] (Day Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus djinda Amor, M.D. & Hart, A.M. 2021. Octopus djinda (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): a new member of the Octopus vulgaris group from southwest Australia. Zootaxa 5061(1): 145-156 [148].

  Type data:

   Holotype WAM S.89010 ♂ 138.6 mm ML, Esperance Bay, WA [-33.84, 121.91].
  Paratype(s) WAM S.89001 ♂, 176.1 mm ML, Geraldton, WA [-28.83, 114.55]; WAM S.89009 ♀, 163.4 mm ML, same as holotype; WAM S.89018,-21,-22 1 ♀, 2 ♂, 124-127 mm ML, Mandurah, WA [-32.76, 115.52]; WAM 89006 ♀, 149.7 mm ML, Geraldton, WA [-28.92, 114.57].

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Octopus aff. tetricus. —
  Hart, A.M., Murphy, D., Hesp, S.A. & Leporati, S. 2019. Biomass estimates and harvest strategies for the Western Australian Octopus aff. tetricus fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science [International Council for the Exploration of the Sea] 76(7): 2205-2217
• Octopus cf. tetricus. —
  Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp.
  Reid, A. 2016. Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing pp. 446. [396-397]
• Octopus tetricus Gould, 1852 [a misidentification]. —
  Joll, L.M. 1977. Growth and food intake of Octopus tetricus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) in aquaria. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 28(1): 45-56
  Stranks, T.S. 1998. The systematic and nomenclatural status of the Octopodinae described from Australia (Mollusca: Cephalopoda). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 586: 529-547 [541] (in part)

Introduction

Widely treated as O. tetricus Gould 1852 prior to 2000. Supports a productive fishery in WA

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Shark Bay (25.51°S) to Cape Le Grand (122.55°E), Western Australia; temperate, east Indian Ocean

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31)

Distribution References

General References

Norman, M.D., Finn, J.K. & Hochberg, F.G. 2014. Family Octopodidae. pp.36-215 in Jereb, P., Roper, C., Norman, M., & Finn, J. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. Rome, Italy : FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes pp. 353. [58]

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. (as Octopus cf. tetricus)

Reid, A. 2016. Cephalopods of Australia and Sub-Antarctic Territories. Clayton South, Victoria : CSIRO Publishing pp. 446. [397] (as Octopus cf. tetricus)

Roper, C.F.E., Sweeney, M.J. & Nauen, C.E. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol.3. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of species of interest to fisheries. FAO Fish. Synopsis No. 125(3), 277 pp. [209] (as Octopus tetricus, a misidentification in part)

Common Name References

Amor, M.D. & Hart, A.M. 2021. Octopus djinda (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae): a new member of the Octopus vulgaris group from southwest Australia. Zootaxa 5061(1): 145-156 [150] (Star Octopus)

Fisheries Research and Development Corporation - Fish Names Committee 2019. AS 5300-2019: Australian Fish Names Standard. Deakin West, ACT : Fisheries Research and Development Corporation 5, pp. 184. [Database available online at https://www.frdc.com.au/knowledge-hub/standards/australian-fish-names-standard] (Western Rock Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus harpedon Norman, M.D. 2001. New octopus species from Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 46(2): 677-690 [677].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM C30411 1♂, Albatross Bay, near Weipa, Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, Australia.
  Paratype(s) AM C304112 1♀, SE Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD, Australia, 2m [16°27'40"S, 141°15'25"E].

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25)

History of changes

• Octopus kaurna Stranks, T.N. 1990. Three new species of Octopus (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) from south-eastern Australia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 50(2): 457-465 [460].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMV F24494 ♂ adult (34.0 mm), Hobsons Bay, Port Phillip Bay, VIC [37°52'S 144°56'E].
  Paratype(s) NMV F52317 ♀, adults (51.0 mm); SAM D13283 ♂, subadult (31.3 mm); SAM D16195 ♀, adult (60.9 mm); NMV F53226 ♂, adult (38.6 mm); NMV F53228 ♀ (42.2 mm).

Distribution

States

South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: benthic, inshore, predator.

Juvenile: benthic, inshore.

Inshore, predator.

General References

Lu, C.C. 2001. Cephalopoda. pp. 129-308 in Wells, A. & Houston, W.W.K. (eds). Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 17.2 Mollusca: Aplacophora, Polyplacophora, Scaphopoda, Cephalopoda. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing, Australia xii 353 pp. [Date published 3 July 2001] (Australian specimens earlier misidentified as O. microphthalmus Goodrich, 1896, name listed by Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp. 7 pls. and Lu, C.C. & Phillips, J.U. 1985. An annotated checklist of Cephalopoda from Australian waters. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 2: 21–36)

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [66] (Southern Sand Octopus)

History of changes

• Octopus laqueus Kaneko, N. & Kubodera, T. 2005. A new species of shallow-water octopus, Octopus laqueus, (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from Okinawa, Japan. Bulletin of the National Science Museum, Tokyo, Series A, Zoology 31(1): 7-20.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

History of changes

• Octopus micros Norman, M.D. 2001. New octopus species from Queensland, Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 46(2): 677-690 [683].

  Type data:

   Holotype MV F87070 1♂, east of Moololaba, 16-20 miles N of Cape Moreton, QLD, Australia, 166-195 m.
  Paratype(s) MV F78815 1♀, off Mooloolaba, QLD, Australia.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IMCRA

Central Eastern Transition (15)

History of changes

• Octopus boscii pallida Hoyle, W.E. 1885. Diagnoses of new species of Cephalopoda collected during the cruise of H.M.S. Challenger. Pt 1. The Octopoda. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 15: 222-236 [223].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, locality unknown.
• Octopus pallidus Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [223].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) BMNH 1889.4.24.19 ♂, off East Moncoeur Island, Bass Strait, 70 m [39°10'30"S 146°37'E]; BMNH 1889.4.24.20-21 ♀ juv., off Twofold Bay, NSW, 275 m [36°59'S 150°20'E]; BMNH 1889.4.24.20–21 ♂, off Twofold Bay, NSW, 275 m [36°59'S 150°20'E].

  Type locality references:

  Hoyle, W.E. 1886. Report on the Cephalopoda collected by H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger 1873–1876, Zoology 16(44): 1-245 pls 1-33.

  Secondary source:

   Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls. [126]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria

IMCRA

Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, inshore.

General References

Stranks, T.N. 1988. Redescription of Octopus pallidus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from south-eastern Australia. Malacologia 29(1): 275-287 (taxonomy, morphology)

Common Name References

Norman, M.D. & Reid, A.L. 2000. A Guide to Squid, Cuttlefish and Octopus of Australasia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing 96 pp. [71] (Pale Octopus)

History of changes

• Sepia peronii Lesueur, C.A. 1821. Descriptions of several new species of cuttlefish. Journal of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 2: 86-101 [101] [nomen nudum; considered a nom. nud. by d'Orbigny, A. 1826. Tableau méthodique de la classe des Céphalopodes. Annales des Sciences Naturelles 7: 96–169 (144)].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, Dorre Island, Shark Bay, WA.

Generic Combinations

• Octopus peronii (Lesueur, 1821). —
  Robson, G.C. 1929. A Monograph of the Recent Cephalopoda. Pt 1 The Octopodinae. London : British Museum (Natural History) 236 pp., 7 pls.

Introduction

Taxon inquirendum.

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

IMCRA

Central Western Shelf Province (29)

Ecological Descriptors

Unknown.

History of changes