Atlantic White-spotted Octopus

Mollusc

Identification & Biology

• IdentificationA medium-sized octopus with a reddish-brown to maroon body covered in distinctive white spots (papillae) across the mantle and arms. The arms are long and slender, often with lighter suckers. Active mainly at night, when it emerges to hunt across the reef.
• SizeMantle length up to 20 cm. Total arm span up to 80 cm.
• Social HabitSolitary and nocturnal. Hides in crevices and holes during the day. More active and visible on night dives than the common octopus.
• HabitatRocky reefs, caves, and rubble areas. Prefers hard substrates with plenty of hiding places.
• Depth0 to 40 m. Most commonly encountered between 5 and 25 m.
• Feeds OnSmall crabs, shrimps, and other crustaceans. Hunts by walking across the reef with arms outstretched, probing into crevices.
• DistributionMediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic from Portugal to the Canary Islands. Present in Maltese waters.
• DescriptionCallistoctopus macropus is the night-diving octopus of the Mediterranean. While the common octopus can be seen during the day, this species is almost exclusively nocturnal. Its white-spotted body is unmistakable under torchlight, and it is often observed walking boldly across open reef rather than skulking in the shadows. A regular highlight of night dives in Malta.