Octopus tetricus

Gloomy octopus | Octopus gibbsi
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Graham Edgar
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus, juvenile, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus, Sydney, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
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Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus
Octopus tetricus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Long arms that are unequal in length and slender at the tips. The undersides of the arms are rust red in colour, and the body and upper arms mottled grey and brown.


Information

Max Size: 80 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 15.3-25.1°C

Depth: 0-30m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (11.4% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney