# Macroctopus > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Macroctopus > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Macroctopus.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroctopus > Source revision: 1355317980 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Species of mollusc}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2023}} {{Speciesbox | image = Maori Octopus-Octopus maorum (8378473607).jpg | genus = Macroctopus | parent_authority = [Robson](/source/Guy_Coburn_Robson), 1928 | species = maorum | authority = ([Hutton](/source/Frederick_Hutton_(scientist)), 1880) | synonyms = *''Octopus communis'' Park, 1885 *''Octopus flindersi'' [Cotton](/source/Bernard_Charles_Cotton), 1932 *''Octopus maorum'' Hutton, 1880 | synonyms_ref = }} '''''Macroctopus''''' is a [monospecific genus](/source/monospecific_genus) of [cephalopod](/source/cephalopod) belonging to the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Octopodidae](/source/Octopodidae), the "tyical octopuses". The only species in the genus is '''''Macroctopus maorum''''', the '''Māori octopus''' or the '''New Zealand octopus''' (''wheke'' in [Māori](/source/te_reo_Maori)). It is found in the waters around [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) and southern [Australia](/source/Australia).{{cite web | url = http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=535605 | title = ''Macroctopus maorum'' (Hutton, 1880) | access-date = 4 February 2018 | publisher = Flanders Marine Institute | author = Julian Finn | year = 2017 | work = World Register of Marine Species}}{{cite journal |author=T. J. Anderson |year=1999 |title=Morphology and biology of ''Octopus maorum'' Hutton 1880 in northern New Zealand |journal=[Bulletin of Marine Science](/source/Bulletin_of_Marine_Science) |volume=65 |issue=3 |pages=657–676 |url=http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1999/00000065/00000003/art00005}} ''M. maorum'' is one of the largest octopus species living in the New Zealand and Australian waters. They feed mainly on crustaceans and fish. Although they have a short life span, the females lay thousands of eggs and are very protective of them.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-16 |title=The largest octopus in the southern hemisphere {{!}} Maori Octopus |url=https://octonation.com/octopedia/maori-octopus/ |access-date=2025-10-13 |website=OctoNation - The Largest Octopus Fan Club! |language=en-US}} This taxon is regarded as a [synonym](/source/Synonym_(taxonomy)) of ''Pinnoctopus cordiformis'' by some authorities. ==Taxonomy== ''Macroctopus'' was first proposed as a new subgenus of ''[Octopus](/source/Octopus_(genus))'' in 1928 by [Guy Coburn Robson](/source/Guy_Coburn_Robson) with ''Octopus maorum'' as its [type species](/source/type_species).{{cite journal |title=On the Giant Octopus of New Zealand |author=G. C. Robson M.A. F.Z.S. |year=1928 |journal=[Proceedings of the Zoological Society](/source/Proceedings_of_the_Zoological_Society) |volume=98 |issue=1 |pages=257-264 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1928.tb07150.x}} This species was first formally [described](/source/Species_description) in 1880 by [Frederick Hutton](/source/Frederick_Hutton_(scientist)) with its [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as [Dunedin](/source/Dunedin).{{cite book | author= Frederick Wollaston Hutton | date= 1880 | title=Manual of the New Zealand Mollusca. A systematic and descriptive catalogue of the marine and land shells, and of the soft mollusks and Polyzoa of New Zealand and the adjacent islands | publisher=New Zealand Geological Survey, Printed at the office of J. Hughes | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13296806}} This taxon is regarded, by some authorities, as being regarded as conspecific with ''[Pinnoctopus cordiformis](/source/Pinnoctopus_cordiformis)'', with ''M. maorum'' being treated as the junior synonym of ''P. cordiformis''.{{cite book |author=Steve O'Shea |year=1999 |title=The Marine Fauna of New Zealand:Octopoda (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) |series=NIWA Biodiversity Memoir |volume=112 |pages=134-145 |isbn=0-478 08486-2 |issn=1174-0043 |editor=Dennis P. Gordon |publisher=National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA) |location=[Wellington](/source/Wellington) |url=https://webstatic.niwa.co.nz/library/Memoir%20112_The%20Marine%20Fauna%20of%20New%20Zealand_Octopoda%20-%201999.pdf}} Yet other authorities do not regard ''P. cordiformis'' as conspecific with ''M. maorum'' and suggest that ''P. cordiformis'' is a synonym of ''[Enteroctopus zealandicus](/source/Enteroctopus_zealandicus)''.{{cite book |author=Norman, M.D. |author2=Finn, J.K. |author3=Hochberg, F.G. |chapter=Family Octopodidae |title=Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date |volume=3 Octopods and Vampire Squids |editor=P. Jereb |editor2=C.F.E Roper |editor3=M.D. Norman |name-list-style=and |editor4=J.K. Finn |series=FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes. No. 4, Vol. 3. |location=Rome |publisher=FAO |year=2016 |url=https://www.fao.org/4/i3489e/i3489e.pdf}}{{cite journal |author=M.D. Norman |name-list-style=and |author2=F.G. Hochberg |year=2005 |title=The current state of octopus taxonomy |journal=Phuket Marine Biological Center Research Bulletin |volume=66 |pages=127-154 |url=https://www.dmcr.go.th/dmcr/fckupload/upload/44/image/FullpaperPMBC/2005%20Vol.66%20Norman%20127%20154.pdf}} ==Identification== ''Macroctopus maorum'' is a large octopus and it is regularly described as a ‘robust’ species, it is a member of the ''Octopus macropus'' [species complex](/source/species_complex). The morphological traits characteristic of this complex are a high number of gill lamellae, a robust conical copulatory organ and arms of varying length with long unequal dorsal arms generally four to six times longer than the mantle. Although being unequal, their arms are said to be long and evenly tapering and ''Macroctopus maorum'' are even known to regrow arms when one has been lost. Being the largest member of its complex arm span is said to exceed {{convert|3|m}}. They have four to six suckers on the first and second arm pairs which are usually about {{convert|40|mm}} in size. Suckers are arranged in two rows down the arm length. There is thought to be no correlation between sexes and size of suckers; however, there was an increase in sucker size with body mass increase. Coloration of this species can vary ''Macroctopus maorum'' can be distinguished from other species by the colour, they will be either orange-brown or dark purple-grey. The octopus has numerous small iridescent white spots on the web, arms and dorsal arm crown but there are no spots present on the mantle. ''Macroctopus maorum'' has 12–14 gill lamella per demibranch, the mantle is described as broadly ovoid and exhibits a skin pattern of longitudinal ridges. Along the dorsum there are five rows of unbranched papillae and two more papillae appear individually above the eyes. Octopus papillae are camouflage specialised with the ability to change shape, such as by extending in and out from the body. Male ''M. maorum'' have a small ligula, the ligula is a specialised arm tip on the hectocotylized arm which grips to allow the transfer of spermatophores. Within the complex ''O. macropus'', ''Macroctopus maorum'' is thought to be the largest member. In a study estimating ''M. maorum'' size based on a sample of 90 beaks, the largest individual found had a body length of {{convert|2.0|m}} and body mass of {{convert|12|kg}}. ''Macroctopus maorum'' has an upper beak and lower beak, the upper beak can be used to differentiate ''Macroctopus maorum'' and ''Enteroctpus zealandicus'' as it has a lack of overlap in the ratio of upper hood length and upper chest length. ''Macroctopus maorum'' hatchlings are usually about {{convert|5.06|mm}} in size, they have 7–8 suckers per arm and each dorsal arm will have 6–11 chromatophores. ==Life cycle/Phenology== ===Sexual maturity=== ====Female==== Grubert and Wadley assigned 5 maturity stages for the egg development of ''Macroctopus maorum'':{{cite journal |last1=Grubert |first1=M. A. |last2=Wadley |first2=V. A. |year=2000 |title=Sexual Maturity and Fecundity of ''Octopus Maorum'' in Southeast Tasmania |journal=Bulletin of Marine Science |volume=66 |issue=1 |pages=131–142}} # Newly formed primary [oogonia](/source/Oogonium) which has a small, distinct nucleus is visible and Follucular cells attach to the ovum and forming follicular epithelium. # Follicular epithelium has completely filled the ova and nucleus is no longer visible. There are no yolk present and cuboidal follicular cells become distinct and closely packed. # First granular yolk appears in the ova. Epithelial convolution still occupying much of the interval volume. # Only periphery of the ova found and been forced out by the expanding yolk. Nuclei of epithelium has now become indistinct. # Mature ova which have thin walls and are replete with yolk. Follicular epithelium produced the chorion and degenerated. Ova is free in the ovary, oviduct or oviducal glands. Female that undergoes stage 4 oocytes were caught throughout the month of April to October, while those females that undergo stage 3 were caught only in April and July. However, females with stage 5 oocytes were caught every month except May and August. ====Male==== In the male, the position of testis from juvenile to adult is different.{{cite journal | last1 = Benham | first1 = W. B. | year = 1943 | title = The Octopodos Mollusca of New Zealand. (III). The Giant Octopus, ''Macroctopus maorum'' (Hutton):in Youth, Adolescence and Maturity | journal = Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand | volume = 73 | pages = 139–152 }} The position of testis moved backward until it reached the final position at the hinder end of the body during the adult stage. Fully mature male octopus consist of fully-formed spermatophores in the Needham’s sac. They usually had up to 13 spermatophores in the Needham’s sac. Furthermore, their reproductive organ will increase in size over the lifetime. ===Mating=== During mating, the male ''Macroctopus maorum'' will be on top pinning down the female and usually overpowering the female physically or pouncing on them. The male will inserts a sperm packet by passing it along the arms to the oviduct of the female. When it gets near the oviduct, the end of the [spermatophore](/source/spermatophore) burst open and release the sperm.. Mather, J. A., Anderson, R. C. & Wood, J.B. (2010) Octopus: The Ocean’s Intelligent Invertebrate. Timber Press Male octopus will then become senescent and die after mating. Female ''Macroctopus maorum'' mature and mate during March and October. ===Eggs laying, brooding and hatching=== ''Macroctopus maorum'' construct the posterior mantle to push out the eggs during egg laying. The female usually will stop eating for 2 weeks during the laying eggs period and continue to look after the eggs until they hatched. ''Macroctopus maorum'' usually lay approximate 7000 eggs. Their eggs are usually clusters of 3-12 eggs and cemented directly to the substratum.{{cite journal | last1 = Batham | first1 = E. J. | year = 1957 | title = Care of Eggs by ''Octopus Maorum '' | journal = Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand | volume = 84 | issue = 3| pages = 629–638 }} ''Octopus maorum'' swept across the eggs sheet with one or more tentacles to keep the eggs well oxygenated, clean and safe from predators. During brooding period female ''Macroctopus maorum'' will stop feeding so that it produce less wastes and ensure the water quality is good for the eggs. When the eggs are about to hatch ''Macroctopus maorum'' will frequently squirt water on the eggs using siphon until the eggs hatched. After the eggs hatch, the female ''Macroctopus maorum'' will swim away and might die as she has been weakened from guarding the eggs. The hatchlings are planktonic and have 7 to 8 suckers per arm. If the hatchling manages to survive, the life cycle will be repeated. == Global distribution and habitat == === Global distribution === ''M. maorum'' is commonly found in the waters of New Zealand and South Australia, preferring temperate to sub-antarctic waters. In New Zealand they are found off the coasts of both the North and South islands, and is one of the most common species of octopus in the country.{{citeq|Q114871191|pp=118-125}} ''M. maorum'' is also common in the waters of the islands surrounding New Zealand including [Campbell](/source/Campbell_Islands), [Chatham](/source/Chatham_Islands) and [Auckland Islands](/source/Auckland_Islands). In Southeast Tasmania, at Eaglehawk Bay the site of a commercial fishery is the only known inshore location where the ''M. maorum'' have been known to gather in large numbers year round. === Habitat === ''M. maorum'' lives in the [benthic zone](/source/benthic_zone) in soft-sediment and rubble habitats with depths of {{convert|0|-|549|m}} and will sometimes forage in nearby hard-reef habitats and are less common at the fringes between reefal and soft sediment habitats. Rather than settling in a specific location, ''M. maorum'' uses temporary shelters. In Tasmania, young ''M. maorum'' have been observed settling in intertidal rock pools. Similar sightings of ''M. maorum'' in intertidal rock pools have been reported during the summer months in Kaikoura and Banks Peninsula. ==Diet/Predators== ===Diet and Foraging=== A study of ''M. maorum'' off the coast of southeastern Tasmania found evidence of 12 different species in the stomachs of sampled octopuses with the dominant prey being the crab ''P. gaimardii'' and other ''M. maorum''.Grubert, Mark A., Wadley, Vicki A., White, Robert W. G. (1999) Diet and feeding strategy of ''Octopus maorum'' in southeast Tasmania, Bulletin of Marine Science, 65(2), 441-451. University of Miami - Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science This is a low number of prey species compared to other species of octopus and it is assumed that the diet of ''M. maorum'' in Southeastern Tasmania is more diverse than results indicated in the study. ''M. Maorum'' will eat bivalves, crustaceans and fish but are selective and show preference to lobster, crabs and scallops. As is the case with other octopus species, ''M. maorum'' injects prey with a toxin that slowly liquefies flesh so that it can be more easily digested. Cannibalism is a common behavior for many species of octopus in the order of large eating small, however small ''M. maorum'' are known to attack larger octopus particularly ''Octopus tetricus'' where habitats overlap. ''M. maorum'' feeds mainly at night unless food is scarce in which case it must forage during the day. ''M. maorum'' is an extremely evolved hunter with a range of hunting methods including stalking, ambush, jet-propulsion and digging.Pack, Y. (1982) [Masking behaviour and related biology of Notomithrax ursus (Oxyrhyncha: Majidae)](/source/hdl%3A10092%2F5947) (Doctoral Thesis, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand). Retrieved from http://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/5947 When executing different hunting methods colour and texture are adjusted, often by darkening and erection of [papillae](/source/Cephalopod_dermal_structures). Prey such as crabs are pounced on using the speed of jet propulsion and prey is trapped under the octopus’s web in what is appropriately called the parachute position. Alternatively, in a situation where prey is nearby the octopus will simply snatch it with one of its tentacles. In the case of prey escaping and hiding ''M. maorum'' will persistently dig to uncover prey by pushing material into its web and dumping the removed material by the entrance to its home. ===Predators and parasites=== ''Macroctopus maorum'' is preyed upon by fur seals, sea lions, pilot whales, other octopus and the [northern royal albatross](/source/northern_royal_albatross).{{cite journal | last1 = Lalas | first1 = C | year = 2009 | title = Estimates of size for the large octopus ''Macroctopus maorum'' from measures of beaks in prey remains | journal = New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research | volume = 43 | issue = 2| pages = 635–642 | doi = 10.1080/00288330909510029 | doi-access = free }} Penguins such as yellow-eyed, fiordland crested and little blue penguin might prey on ''Macroctopus maorum'' as well.{{cite journal | last1 = Heezik | first1 = Y. V. | year = 1990 | title = Diets of Yellow-eyed, Fiordland crested, and Little Blue Penguins Breeding Sympatrically on Codfish Island, New Zealand | journal = New Zealand Journal of Zoology | volume = 17 | issue = 4| pages = 543–548 | doi = 10.1080/03014223.1990.10422952 | doi-access = free }} ''M. maorum'' hosts dicyemid mesozoans and digenetic trematodes as parasites.Stranks, T. N. (1998). Systematics of the family Octopodidae (Mollusca:Cephalopoda) of South-Eastern Australia. (Masters Research thesis, Dept. of Zoology, The University of Melbourne) A more recent study of the species adds wobbegongs, school and gummy sharks, mulloway, queen snapper and dolphins to the list of predators.Shepard, S., & Edgar, G. (2013). Maori octopus ''Macroctopum maorum'' and pale octopus ''Octopus pallidus''. In Ecology of Australian Temperate Reefs: The Unique South (pp. 138–130). Collingwood Australia: Csiro Publishing Sea slugs will often feed on ''M. maorum'' eggs. ==Other information== While research was being carried out the behavior of ''M. maorum'' was monitored and results showed that while being in the aquarium they showed a variety of behaviors such as fighting, flamboyant postures and defensive up-turning of arms, withdrawing and cleaning. Small ''M. maorum'' would often take on larger octopuses such as ''O. tetricus'' such as a {{convert|300|g}} ''M. maorum'' fought and started to eat a 1 kg ''O. tetricus''. ''M. maorum'' will generally reach a weight of up to {{convert|12|kg}} when fully grown. They live solitarily in a den for up to three months at a time. They would gather prey remains to form a midden (piles of shells, bones and rocks) the midden is used to conceal the entrance to their den. Sometimes mature ''M. maorum'' have been located in Eaglehawk Bay in Tasmania nobody knows why they aggregate here or where they come from.{{Cite journal|last1=Doubleday|first1=Z. A.|last2=Danyushevsky|first2=L.|last3=Pecl|first3=G. T.|last4=Semmens|first4=J. M.|date=2008|title=Using stylet elemental signatures to determine the population structure of Octopus maorum.|journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series|doi=10.3354/meps07389|volume=360|pages=125–133|bibcode=2008MEPS..360..125D |doi-access=free}} ''M. maorum'' has a significant economic effect on rock lobster fisheries in New Zealand and Southern Australia. ''M. maorum'' will prey on trapped southern rock lobster killing many and leaving some lobster missing limbs making them unsaleable.{{Cite journal|author1=Harrington, J. J. |author2=Semmens, J. M. |author3=Gardner, C. |author4=Frusher, S. D. |date=2006|title=Predation of trap-caught southern rock lobsters, Jasus edwardsii (Hutton, 1875), in Tasmanian waters by the Maori octopus, Octopus maorum (Hutton, 1880): Spatial and temporal trends|journal=Fisheries Research|doi=10.1016/j.fishres.2005.09.003 |volume=77 |pages=10–16}} This also means that ''M. maorum'' is being caught as [bycatch](/source/bycatch). The South Australian rock lobster fisheries report that since 1983 octopus bycatch has ranged from 38,000 to 119,000 octopus a year.{{Cite journal|last1=Brock|first1=D. J.|last2=Ward|first2=T. M.|date=2004|title=Maori octopus (Octopus maorum) bycatch and southern rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) mortality in the South Australian rock lobster fishery.|journal=Fishery Bulletin}} ''M. maorum'' are fished commercially in Eaglehawk Bay Tasmania where they congregate throughout the year in large numbers (as many as 70 octopuses). Eaglehawk Bay is the sole location where such a large inshore congregation is known to occur. ''M. maorum'' had been used as a model to determine the age of merobenthic, by using stylet increment analysis. SIA (Stylet Increment Analysis) is a method which was developed recently to determine the age of an octopus, age is important for estimating the growth rate, population age structure, mortality rate, productivity and processes. Due to this understanding, it can be used to make important decisions surrounding fisheries and conservation management. Stylets are highly reduced internal shells that consist of small rod-like structures, the result of SIA showed that a stylet of ''M. maorum'' can be hard to prepare and age. However, SIA can only provide the relative age of the species, due to lack of knowledge surrounding the formation of the first stylet increment. Therefore, alternative methods of age determination of the octopus may need to be explored.{{Cite journal|last1=Doubleday|first1=Z. A.|last2=White|first2=J.|last3=Pecl|first3=G.T.|last4=Semmens|first4=J. M.|date=2011|title=Age determination in merobenthic octopuses using stylet increment analysis: assessing future challenges using Macroctopus maorum as a model |journal=Journal of Marine Science|doi=10.1093/icesjms/fsr135|volume=68|issue=10|pages=2059–2063|doi-access=free}} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q18579969}} Category:Cephalopods of Oceania Category:Octopodidae Category:Molluscs described in 1880 Category:Molluscs of New Zealand Category:Molluscs of the Pacific Ocean --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Macroctopus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroctopus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macroctopus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.