Ocythoe tuberculata

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For the harpy of Greek mythology, see Ocypete.
For the oracular animal, see Paul the Octopus.
Tuberculate pelagic octopus
Ocythoe tuberculata3.jpg
Specimen preserved in formaldehyde
Ocythoe tuberculata.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Superfamily: Argonautoida
Family: Ocythoidae
Gray, 1849
Genus: Ocythoe
Rafinesque, 1814
Species: O. tuberculata
Binomial name
Ocythoe tuberculata
Rafinesque, 1814

Ocythoe tuberculata, also known as the tuberculate pelagic octopus or football octopus, is a pelagic octopus. It is the only known species in the family Ocythoidae.

Ocythoe tuberculata is found in warm and temperate seas, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, such as the North Pacific Ocean off California.


The females are around 1 metre (3.3 ft) long when full-grown. The males are considerably smaller at around 10 centimetres (3.9 in).

As a species, they are unique among cephalopods in possessing a true gas bladder[citation needed]. They are also one of the only known ovoviviparous cephalopod species. It is relatively unresearched in terms of behaviour and life cycle.

Young females and mature males have been observed residing inside salps, although little is known about this relationship.


Lower (left) and upper beaks of female Ocythoe tuberculata in lateral view

External links[edit]