Giant Pacific octopuses are having their moment right now with the popularity of the book and movie Remarkably Bright Creatures. And with good reason: these animals have some pretty incredible abilities! From their amazing minds to spectacular color-changing shows, giant Pacific octopuses are truly a marvel of our oceans. Take a moment to dive in and learn the truth you may or may not already know about these octopuses.
BUILT FOR THE PACIFIC
True to their name, giant Pacific octopuses are found throughout the Pacific Ocean, ranging from California and Mexico all the way to Alaska and Japan. They hold the record for the largest octopus species on Earth. Individuals have been known to have an arm span of over 31 feet – longer than a city bus – and weigh 600 pounds. On average, however, they tend to be closer to about 132 pounds. Giant Pacific octopuses grow quickly upon birth and continue growing for their entire lives.
Despite their size, the giant Pacific octopus is surprisingly elusive. These solitary animals spend much of their time in rocky dens, sometimes tucking themselves away for weeks at a time. To help them hide, these octopuses can change not just their color but also their texture to blend in with their environment.
NINE BRAINS, THREE HEARTS, BLUE BLOOD
If one brain isn’t impressive enough, the giant Pacific octopus runs on nine! Like other octopuses, they have a central brain within their large body, with an additional brain in each of their eight arms. Each arm can act semi-independently without communicating with the central brain — multitasking in the most literal sense! Each of those eight arms is also lined with up to 280 suckers packed with thousands of chemical receptors. This allows the octopus to taste and feel anything it encounters, providing important information about its environment and helping it detect prey.
Meanwhile, three hearts keep their blue, copper-based blood pumping. That copper-rich blood isn’t just a quirk — it’s what allows them to extract oxygen efficiently from the cold Pacific waters they call home.
The giant Pacific octopus has also demonstrated remarkable cognitive abilities. They can use shells and stones as tools, navigate by landmarks, and learn through keen observation of their surroundings. Each octopus also has its own personality, and in captivity, they can recognize individual caretakers, solve puzzles, and demonstrate impressive escape abilities.
SURPRISINGLY DEVOTED PARENTS
When it’s time to breed, a female giant Pacific octopus lays up to 100,000 tiny eggs, then dedicates the rest of her life to them. For up to a year, the female stays in her den, tirelessly cleaning, oxygenating, and protecting the eggs. She doesn’t eat during this entire period. By the time the eggs hatch, she has used up all her energy and will die either before her eggs hatch or soon after. Males also die several months after breeding, although they may mate with several females before doing so. For all their complexity, giant Pacific octopuses live for up to five years.
CONCLUSION
While Marcellus in Remarkably Bright Creatures is fiction, the science behind him is very real. Giant Pacific octopuses are sentient, curious, problem-solving animals, and they depend on healthy oceans to survive.
Oceana’s work helps protect the ocean ecosystems that animals like the giant Pacific octopus call home. Whether it’s advocating to safeguard ocean habitat or banning destructive bottom trawling, our work around the world helps protect these remarkable creatures and the places they call home. Learn even more about these marine marvels with Oceana’s Marine Life Encyclopedia.
