Nancy;127924 said:
As for Hummelinckis, we were not able to find enough definitive information to actually write up a species note.
The manuscript was finished by April, so all research and writing was done earlier. At the time, we were only beginning to see this species available to home aquarists.
However, you will find in the book a photo of dwhatley's Octane and a mention that he was most likely an Octopus hummelincki.
Nancy
... and I am beginning to have some doubts about the id of what we have been calling O. Hummelincki. I know Nancy had thoughts early on and was trying to find definitive ID on the eye spot. I have seen this octo identified as filosus (renamed hummelincki) outside of TONMO (including a NOAA picture showing a keys reef but I cannot find it now to provide a link - very strange to look for photos on Yahoo and see other members photos as well as your own

), however, the description in Norman as well as the photo for filosus looks like my brooding (I hope) octopus, Serendipity. There are enough differences between
Octane and
Serendipity to imply either sexual dimorphism in this octopus or that there are two species. The false eye spot and coloration of the underside and tips of the suckers are considerably different. Additionally, there is a significant size difference (the female being tiny compared to an adult male). I would venture to say that Serendipity was not hummelincki
except she is the one that matches the only formal descripiton we can find (Norman). Needless to say there are either two Caribbean Two Spot octos or the male and female of this species are identifiably different. Until more females come into the hobby, it will be hard to make a call.
Maybe Nancy and Colin will consider an octopus ID book next
