Life on the California/Mexico coast provides a steady income of mollusks and crustaceans that the octopus can enjoy. As hatchlings, the species will hunt amphipods or mysid shrimp. It will feed on a wide range of sea creatures, from fish to shellfish.Īdults will primarily eat small crabs, snails, clams, and muscles. The California Two-Spot Octopus is not a picky creature. What Do California Two-Spot Octopuses Eat? In these same cases, they will often choose prey that is higher in fat than another nearby animal. If its prey is particularly abundant one day, the octopus may eat twice as often as usual. When prey passes by their hiding spot, they can leap onto them and feed. Other times, they will use camouflage or simply hide as they wait for their prey to come to them. When they are hungry enough, they will set out to hunt their prey and pounce on it to capture and eat it. The Two-Spot Octopus usually hunts twice per day, using both active and passive hunting styles. They are tactful hunters who operate mainly at night due to their excellent eyesight. Food and DietĪs common among sea creatures, especially octopuses, the Two-Spot Octopus enjoys a healthy diet of other sea creatures. They also tend to inhabit the warm waters of both Africa and Japan. While California is known as its native location, the Two-Spot Octopus can also be found along the western coast of the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. California’s warm waters are preferable for the species, which like to stay in the warmer areas that the Pacific Ocean provides. This octopus is native to the coastal areas of California. Where Do California Two-Spot Octopuses Live? They also like areas with plenty of rocks and crevices in which they can hide.

They prefer to live near the sandy bottoms of the water, leaving them in more shallow areas of the ocean compared to other species. They most often live and operate about 65 feet below the surface, making them one of the species more frequently seen by humans. The Two-Spot Octopus enjoys warmer waters, thriving in oceans with temperatures ranging from 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

She will then bring cool water over her nest.Īfter anywhere from 150 to 210 days, the eggs will hatch, and the newborns will immediately begin taking care of themselves. When a female is fertilized by a male, she can lay as many as 70,000 eggs. This species is semelparous, which means it will only mate once its lifetime. Once it reaches between the ages of one and two years, it becomes ready to mate and reproduce. Upon hatching from their egg, these young animals are immediately independent and can hunt and feed themselves in their first moments of life. Given its short lifespan, the octopus matures quickly. The longest it has lived in captivity is two years. This species has a typical lifespan of one to one and a half years in the wild. By controlling their pigments, they can adapt to their surroundings to hunt, hide, and even mate. Many two-spot octopuses have a mottled brown color or a grayish color with yellow spots. These two spots reside on either side of the body and resemble the appearance of their eyes, which is thought to be a defense mechanism against predators.ĭepending on the specific animal’s habitat, its overall coloring can vary greatly. This octopus’s most distinctive physical characteristic is its blue spots around its eyes. The maximum weight documented for this species is 1.5 kg. Each of its arms can grow up to 23 inches long, giving it a decent reach beyond its own body. The California Two-Spot Octopus has an average mantle size of about seven inches. It is smaller than most species, and it boasts distinctive markings that separate it from others in the family. Overall, the Two-Spot Octopus appears generally similar to the average octopus species, sporting eight tentacles attached to a soft body. Fun Facts About California Two-Spot Octopuses.What Do California Two-Spot Octopuses Eat?.Where Do California Two-Spot Octopuses Live?.

Octopus predators