Octopus Wolfi (star sucker octopus) Wülker, 1913

[DWhatley]

See octosquid.io for photos and video

octosquid.io (with permission): Octopus wolfi is an incirrate octopus found in Okinawa, Japan, and throughout the Indo-Pacific, including the Phillipines, Thailand, and Australia. It is a tropical to sub-tropical pygmy species that lives in the endless cranies and crevices of shallow water coral reefs. It is one of the smallest octopuses in the world, with an adult body size of 45 mm.

 

[GPO87]

For those who were unsure of the reasoning for the common name (I didn't quite get it at first), take a look at the suckers in this picture. Makes more sense!

 

[GPO87]

Also this is my FAVORITE picture! Imagine it with a top hat and cane... tap- dancing...

 

[DWhatley]

@GPO87, I started to use that one too. Octosquid.io has other great photos and some video on Facebook and I need to follow. Very positive about my request to post (acutally, post, notify and obtain permission )

 

[Neogonodactylus]

We find Octopus wolfi in Moorea, Indonesia and Australia living in rubble near the reef crest. It is fairly common to a depth of 2-3 m, but is found deeper. Only adult males have the stellate suckers. During mating the male mounts the female as happens in some other pygmy octopuses such as blue-rings and Octopus chierchiae. The first image below is a female, the second a male. "Mating" here is between two males.

Roy

 

[tonmo]

great thread, put it up on FB...

 

[Nancy]

Roy, how did you achieve that wonderful gray-green background in two of the photos? I assume these are tank photos.

Nancy

 

[tonmo]

Also this is my FAVORITE picture! Imagine it with a top hat and cane... tap- dancing...

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1647797463120502789