Though Giant Pacific Octopus can grow up to 30 feet across and weigh up to 600 pounds, averages are closer to 16 feet and 110 pounds.

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Giant Pacific octopus

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Giant_Pacific_octopus

It can be found from the intertidal zone down to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and is best-adapted to colder, oxygen- and nutrient-rich waters. It is the largest octopus ...

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How big is a North Pacific giant octopus?

A full-grown giant Pacific octopus can weigh more than 50 pounds. The heaviest on record was a creature weighing 200 pounds and measuring nearly 20 feet across. The giant Pacific octopus, like all octopuses, is a mollusc — a boneless invertebrate related to clams.

Giant Pacific octopus | Animals - Monterey Bay Aquarium

Monterey Bay Aquarium

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org › animals-a-to-z

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Giant Pacific octopus | Animals

Monterey Bay Aquarium

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org › animals-a-to-z

A full-grown giant Pacific octopus can weigh more than 50 pounds. The heaviest on record was a creature weighing 200 pounds and measuring nearly 20 feet across.

AI Overview

The giant Pacific octopus is the largest octopus species in the world, found in the northern Pacific Ocean from California to Alaska and across to Japan. While they can grow up to 30 feet across and weigh up to 600 pounds, averages are closer to 16 feet and 110 pounds. They are highly intelligent, with a lifespan of 3–5 years, and have a diet of crustaceans, fish, and mollusks.

Size and appearance

• Maximum size: The largest recorded individual weighed 600 pounds and measured 30 feet across.
• Average size: Most adults are around 16 feet across and weigh about 110 pounds.
• Appearance: They have a large, bulbous head and are typically reddish-brown, but can instantly change their color and texture to camouflage themselves.

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Habitat and diet

• Habitat: They live in the temperate waters of the Pacific, ranging from shallow tide pools to depths of about 4,920 feet, but are most common in waters up to 16 feet deep.
• Diet: This carnivorous species primarily eats crustaceans like crabs, clams, and shrimp, as well as fish and other mollusks. They are also known to eat sharks and birds.
• Hunting: They are nocturnal predators that use their suckers to taste and smell, and can paralyze prey with a toxic saliva from their beak.

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Intelligence and behavior

• Intelligence: They are extremely intelligent, capable of solving mazes, opening jars, and mimicking other species in lab tests.
• Lifespan: They have a relatively short lifespan of 3 to 5 years, reaching sexual maturity at 1–2 years.
• Reproduction: Both males and females die shortly after reproducing. The female dedicates herself to guarding her eggs and will not eat during this period.
• Defense mechanisms: They use ink, camouflage, and can jet away from danger by expelling water.

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Unique features

• Hearts: They have three hearts.
• Blood: Their blood is blue.
• Brains: They have nine brains, including a central brain and a mini-brain in each of their eight arms.
• Suckers: Each arm has about 200 suckers, and the suckers have taste receptors that are more sensitive than a human tongue. 

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Videos

Stuck on you: caring for our giant Pacific octopus

YouTube · Monterey Bay Aquarium

Mar 21, 2024

YouTube · Monterey Bay Aquarium

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Learn about the giant Pacific octopus with Renee at the Mora Aquarium. See Chica interact, change colors, and dance.

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Facebook · ABC 7 Chicago

Mar 7, 2025

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A group of friends finds a giant octopus in a tide pool and are amazed by its size and beauty.

Northern Giant Pacific Octopus

YouTube · Hinterland Who's Who / Faune et flore du pays

Jun 5, 2020

YouTube · Hinterland Who's Who / Faune et flore du pays

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Giant Pacific octopus is the largest octopus on Earth, weighing up to 100 kg and reaching 9 m long. They have 8 arms with suction cups, blue blood, and can change color and texture.

Giant Pacific octopus in tide pool amazes Washington hikers

YouTube · ABC 7 Chicago

Mar 7, 2025

YouTube · ABC 7 Chicago

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Hikers in Washington are surprised to find a giant Pacific octopus on their route.

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Short videos

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Intelligent, aggressive, opportunistic - the Giant Pacific Octopus

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A giant Pacific octopus made a group of friends’ day when ...

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What people are saying

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Intelligent, aggressive, opportunistic - the Giant Pacific Octopus 🐙

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Giant Pacific octopus caught & released in Redondo Beach, California

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🔥 A rare daytime encounter with a giant Pacific octopus in Barkley Sound [OC]

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Today is World Octopus Day! 🐙 Did you know these eight-armed cephalopods have many impressive adaptations, including shape shifting, color changing, ink squirting, and jet propulsion? Come spend some time observing our giant Pacific octopus in the Spineless exhibit. You won't be sorry! As the largest octopus species, these marine giants can weigh over 50 pounds with an arm span up to 13 feet, from tip to sucker-covered tip.

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Happy World Octopus Day! 🐙✨ Meet the Giant Pacific Octopus—the largest octopus species in the world! With three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to change color and texture, they’re as fascinating as they are intelligent. 🌊💙

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Woah! These fisherman accidentally caught a Giant Pacific Octopus! 🐙😨

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Here it is - the world’s largest octopus, the giant Pacific octopus! Most adults weigh 15-20 kg, but some grow to 70 kg with arms stretching up to 9 meters - as long as a bus. They usually hide in crevices, leaving piles of shells at their dens, but come out to hunt, easily cracking crabs and mussels with their strong beak. Notice the pile of shells near a den in one of the photos - that’s how you can spot an octopus’s home. Far from a sea monster, this is one of the ocean’s most intelligent creatures, able to open jars, solve puzzles, and change both color and shape.

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The deep sea’s master of disguise. The giant Pacific octopus is the largest octopus species on Earth, with some reaching over 150 pounds and stretching more than 20 feet arm-to-arm. Armed with over 2,000 suction cups — each capable of tasting as well as g

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See "Fitzgerald" the Octopus at Great Lakes Aquarium Info/tix destinationduluth.co/GLAquarium Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) is the largest known octopus species in the world. These animals are native to most northern Pacific coastlines. Howe

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Giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) are the largest known octopus species in the world. These animals are native to most northern Pacific coastlines. However, you don’t need to travel long distances to catch a glimpse of this amazing species; you can come visit our resident octopus, Fitzgerald anytime! #GreatLakesAquarium #VisitDuluth #GiantPacificOctopus #Octopus #PacificNorthWest

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Giant Pacific Octopus

New England Aquarium

https://www.neaq.org › Animals

They are intelligent, can change color, and have excellent eyesight. They are also very strong. Using their eight arms, they can move more than 700 pounds!

Eight little facts about the giant Pacific octopus

WWF - Canada

https://wwf.ca › Stories

Oct 3, 2023 — Adult giant Pacific octopuses typically weigh about 50 kilograms and are nearly 5 metres across while the largest ever recorded was 270 kilograms and 9 metres ...

Giant Pacific Octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) Printer Friendly

Alaska Fish and Game (.gov)

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov › ... › Giantpacificoctopus

The Giant Pacific Octopus weighs 22 to 110 pounds (avg. 45-65 pounds). A 156-pound animal was recorded by Canadian researchers. They have a relatively short ...

Giant Pacific octopus

Seattle Aquarium

https://www.seattleaquarium.org › animal › giant-pacifi...

Adult giant Pacific octopuses can weigh from 40 to 100 pounds, with a relaxed tip-to-tip dimension of 12–14 feet. Their arms have approximately 200 suckers each ...

Missing: northern ‎| Show results with: northern

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Giant Pacific octopus

Animal

The giant Pacific octopus, also known as the North Pacific giant octopus, is a large marine cephalopod belonging to the genus Enteroctopus and Enteroctopodidae family.

Source: Wikipedia

Lifespan

3 – 5 years

In the wild

Mass

22 – 160 lbs

Adult

Scientific name: Enteroctopus dofleini

Colors: reddish-pink montereybayaquarium.org

Class: Cephalopoda

Family: Enteroctopodidae

Genus: Enteroctopus

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