California two-spot octopus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (Redirected from California Two-Spot Octopus)
Jump to: navigation, search
California two-spot octopus
Immature Octopus bimaculoides
Octopus bimaculoides at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Octopus
Subgenus: Octopus
Species: O. bimaculoides
Binomial name
Octopus bimaculoides
Pickford & McConnaughey, 1949

The California two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculoides), also known as the "bimac" octopus, is an octopus species found off the coast of California. One can identify the species by the circular blue eyespots on each side of its head. Due to their friendly temperament and relative hardiness, they are considered by most experts to make the best pet octopus. Bimacs usually live to be about two years old. They are closely related to Verrill's two-spot octopus (Octopus bimaculatus).


This species is found in the eastern Pacific, from the mid-California coast to Mexico, the Indo-Pacific from East Africa to American Samoa, north to Japan, and south to the Great Barrier Reef.


This species of octopus is found in the intertidal and benthic zones, from the low tide to subtidal depths of about 20 m (65 ft). It prefers sandy substrate and caves of rock or debris for hiding. It tolerates a wide temperature range (at least 60-80°F), though it prefers 65-72°F.


O. bimaculoides reaches a mantle size of 7 inches (17.5 cm) and arms to 23 inches (58 cm). Not usually heavily textured, it has several common colors, such as grey with yellow splotches, and uses highly developed crypsis (camouflage or color changing to match their environment). Octopuses achieve color change in part by chromatophores, iridophores, and leucophores; all are structures of the skin in increasing depth. Chromatophores are generally known as elastic pigment sacs with muscle fibers attached to let them expand and contract. The leucophores are important because they allow for the reflection of white light and consequently allow the skin to reflect wavelengths of light which are prevalent in their habitat and produce disruptive patterns. The other aspect to cephalopod camouflage is the brain, which contains nerves coated in chromatophore fibers, controlling coloration patterning.

Distinctive features[edit]

It gets its name from the false eye spot under each real eye known as the ocellus. In O.bimaculoides, the ocellus is an iridescent blue, chain-link circle set in a circle of black.

Life span[edit]

These octopuses live one to two years. The end is signaled by egg-laying in the female or senility in the male.


Adults feed on clams, mussels, small crabs, crayfish, and snails. Hatchlings feed on amphipods or mysid shrimp.[1]


  1. ^ tonmo cephcare BimacCareSheet.php

External links[edit]

Video of Octopus bimaculoides (California two-spot octopus)