Overview
Highly intelligent cephalopod prized by fishermen. Hides in rocky dens and hunts crustaceans and mollusks.
Identification
Soft bodyEight tentaclesSuckers on each tentacleProminent eyesAdvanced nervous systemNo skeletonSkin capable of changing colorStrong beak
- Body
- Soft, globular body with eight tentacles equipped with suckers.
- Colouration
- Variable color, often gray-brown, can change color for camouflage.
- Sexual dimorphism
- Absent or not prominent
- Growth
- Moderate, quickly adapts to environment
Taxonomy
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Order
- Octopoda
- Class
- Cephalopoda
Related species
Octopus bimaculoidesOctopus cyaneaOctopus briareusEnteroctopus dofleiniOctopus rubescens
Habitat & distribution
- Environment
- coast, reefs, open_sea
- Preferred bottom
- rock, sand, reef
- Geographic distribution
- Common in tropical and temperate seas, especially in the Mediterranean and eastern Atlantic.
- Micro-habitat
- Hides in dens among rocks and crevices in reefs and coral barriers.
Adapts its dens to changing tides and currents.
Presence by sea area
Tirreno NordPeak
Tirreno CentroPeak
Tirreno SudPeak
Adriatico NordPeak
Adriatico CentroPeak
Adriatico SudPeak
Ionio NordPeak
Ionio CentroPeak
Sardegna OvestPeak
Sardegna EstPeak
Sicilia TirrenoPeak
Sicilia Ionio CanalePeak
Eu Mediterraneo OvestPeak
Eu Mediterraneo EstPeak
Eu Golfo BiscagliaPeak
Eu Mare NordPeak
Eu ManicaPeak
Eu Azzorre Madeira CanariePeak
Af Atlantico Trop EPeak
Af Golfo GuineaPeak
As Mar Cinese EstPeak
As Giappone SudPeak
Diet
- Primary prey
- crustaceans, mollusks, fish
- Secondary prey
- crabs, shrimps, sea snails
- Occasional prey
- polychaetes, echinoderms
- Feeding behaviour
- Nocturnal hunter, uses tentacles to catch prey and brings them to the beak to consume, often venomous.
- Natural predators
- sharks, large bony fish, moray eels, dolphins, humans
Excellent nocturnal predator using intelligence to capture prey.
Behaviour
- Activity
- nocturnal
- Social behaviour
- solitary
- Aggressiveness
- medium
- Migration
- Sedentary, with limited movements related to food and shelter search.
- Seasonal behaviour
- Longer, warmer days increase predatory and reproductive activity.
- Juveniles
- Tends to hide and move little, favoring shallow waters.
- Adults
- Increased territoriality and tendency to defend its den.
Reproduction
- Spawning season
- April, May, June
- Spawning depth
- between 10 and 50 meters
- Eggs
- Small eggs laid in clusters under rocks, benthic.
- Larval stage
- Pelagic larvae that disperse at sea for several weeks.
- Sexual maturity
- 1-2 years
When to catch Common octopus
Activity calendar
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
PeakGoodLowInactive
Activity by season
Best times
Dayalba, mattino
Nightnotte
This species shows peak fishing activity in winter, when the productivity index (FPI) reaches its highest values.
Fishing activity decreases in spring and summer, when conditions are less favourable.
Ideal conditions
Atmospheric pressure
Low
Very active, leaves den to hunt.
Medium
Regular activity.
High
Stays in den, less active.
Barometric trend
Water temperature
13°COptimal zone: 17-26°C29°C
Preferred tide: low
Where to catch it
Best spots
rocky bottomscoral reefsunderwater cavitiesnear the coasts
Bottom preference
Spot type
Fishing techniques
Recommended
trapsgillnetshand linespots
Other applicable
BolentinoPesca A Fondo
Recommended baits
sardinesshrimpscuttlefishcrabs
Baits by pressure
Low
PolparaCrab imitazione (gomma)Totanara piombata
Medium
Gambero morto / GamberoGranchio morto / pezziGranchio vivoPezzo di pesceStriscia di calamaro
High
CozzaEsca naturale (generica)
Catch & handling tips
- Fight
- Energetic and capable of clinging tightly to the bottom or boat.
- Handling
- Handle tentacles cautiously to avoid suckers and beak.
- Release
- Handle gently and release near an underwater cave.
Curiosities & culture
- Record catches
- The all-tackle world record for the common octopus is not specifically documented by the IGFA, but large specimens are known to weigh over 10 kg. It's an incredibly popular species in Mediterranean sport fishing, valued for both the challenge and its excellent culinary qualities.
- In the kitchen
- Used in dishes like octopus salad and grilled octopus, popular in various coastal Italian regions.
- Cultural notes
- A symbol of intelligence and mystery in many marine cultures.
- Historical notes
- Highly valued since ancient times, with references in Greek and Roman literature.
