# Octopus insularis > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Octopus_insularis > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Octopus_insularis.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_insularis > Source revision: 1314571829 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Species of octopus}} {{Speciesbox | image = Octopus insularis.jpg | taxon = Octopus insularis | authority = Leite & Haimovici in Leite, Haimovici, Molina & Warnke, 2008 }} '''''Octopus insularis''''' is a species of [octopus](/source/octopus) described in 2008 from individuals found off the coast of Brazil, with a potentially much larger range.MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Octopus insularis Leite & Haimovici in Leite, Haimovici, Molina & Warnke, 2008. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=457762 on 2020-05-04 The species is described as medium in size and as a specialized generalist-opportunistic predator with a diet of mainly [crustaceans](/source/crustaceans), [bivalves](/source/Bivalvia), and [gastropods](/source/Gastropoda). Recently recognized as a separate species from ''[O. vulgaris](/source/Common_octopus)'', ''O. insularis'' has been found to be different in physiology and reproductive behavior. ==Description== The octopus is described as red-brown in color, relatively medium in size, with arms that are proportionately compact.{{Cite journal|last1=Leite|first1=T. S.|last2=Haimovici|first2=M.|last3=Molina|first3=W.|last4=Warnke|first4=K.|date=2008-02-01|title=Morphological and genetic description of Octopus insularis, a new cryptic species in the Octopus vulgaris complex (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from the tropical southwestern Atlantic|url=https://academic.oup.com/mollus/article/74/1/63/1198243|journal=Journal of Molluscan Studies|language=en|volume=74|issue=1|pages=63–74|doi=10.1093/mollus/eym050|issn=0260-1230|doi-access=free|url-access=subscription}} ''O. insularis'' was previously unrecognized as distinct from the species ''O. vulgaris'', but various physiological differences have since been recorded, including relatively shorter arms, a deeper web, fewer [hectocotylus](/source/hectocotylus) suckers, a stronger beak, smaller [spermatophore](/source/spermatophore)s, and maturing at a smaller body size. ==Distribution== ''O. insularis'' is known to be found off the coasts of [Brazil](/source/Brazil) and Gulf of Mexico. There are occurrence records as far north as Florida, with multiple publications in process. The name ''insularis'' was given, due to the species' insular distribution, living near islands such as [Fernando de Noronha](/source/Fernando_de_Noronha), [Saint Peter](/source/Saint_Peter_and_Saint_Paul_Archipelago), and Saint Paul. The octopus is known to live in shallow waters in a variety of habitats, such as rocky, muddy, or sandy sea bottoms, sandstone, coral, or flat biogenic reefs, algae patches, tide pools, and intertidal rocky beds. ==Ecology== ===Feeding=== ''O. insularis'' is considered a specialized generalist-opportunistic predator and preys mostly on crustaceans, bivalves, and gastropods.{{Cite journal|last1=Leite|first1=Tatiana S.|last2=Batista|first2=Allan T.|last3=Lima|first3=Francoise D.|last4=Barbosa|first4=Jaciana C.|last5=Mather|first5=Jennifer|date=2016|title=Geographic variability of Octopus insularis diet: from oceanic island to continental populations|url=https://opus.uleth.ca/handle/10133/5598|language=en-US}} Research has suggested that larger specimens still tend to prefer catching small crabs, which are easier to find, catch, and eat, over larger crabs and lobsters, making the octopus a "time-minimizing forager", as opposed to a "rate-maximizing forager".{{Cite journal|last1=Leite|first1=Tatiana Silva|last2=Haimovici|first2=Manuel|last3=Mather|first3=Jennifer|date=2009-08-08|title=Octopus insularis (Octopodidae), evidences of a specialized predator and a time-minimizing hunter|url=https://ntserver1.wsulibs.wsu.edu:2137/10.1007/s00227-009-1264-4|journal=Marine Biology|volume=156|issue=11|pages=2355–2367|doi=10.1007/s00227-009-1264-4|s2cid=54904401 |issn=0025-3162|url-access=subscription}} ===Reproduction=== Spawning takes place in the winter months, and individuals grow and mature in annual cycles.{{Cite journal|last1=González-Gómez|first1=Roberto|last2=Meiners-Mandujano|first2=César|last3=Morillo-Velarde|first3=Piedad S.|last4=Jiménez-Badillo|first4=Lourdes|last5=Markaida|first5=Unai|title=Reproductive Dynamics and Population Structure of Octopus Insularis from the Veracruz Reef System Marine Protected Area, Mexico|date=2020-01-01|journal=Fisheries Research|language=en|volume=221|article-number=105385|doi=10.1016/j.fishres.2019.105385|s2cid=208604713 |issn=0165-7836|doi-access=}} The gonadal development of ''O. insularis'' been described as similar to that of ''O. vulgaris'', though differences include the former's relatively smaller gonads, lower fecundity, year round production/release of spermatophores, and group-synchronous ovulation, which are thought to be related to the species' shorter lifespan and less variety in local environmental conditions.{{Cite journal|last1=Lima|first1=F.|last2=Leite|first2=T.|last3=Haimovici|first3=M.|last4=Lins Oliveira|first4=J.|date=2014|title=Gonadal development and reproductive strategies of the tropical octopus ( Octopus insularis) in northeast Brazil.|journal=Hydrobiologia|volume=725|issue=1|pages=7–21|doi=10.1007/s10750-013-1718-z|s2cid=16982545 }} ==References== {{Reflist}} * Norman M.D., Finn J.K. & Hochberg F.G. (2014). Family Octopodidae. pp. 36-215, in P. Jereb, C.F.E. Roper, M.D. Norman & J.K. Finn eds. Cephalopods of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of cephalopod species known to date. Volume 3. Octopods and Vampire Squids. FAO Species Catalogue for Fishery Purposes {{Taxonbar|from=Q10340168}} Category:Octopuses Category:Molluscs of the Atlantic Ocean Category:Cephalopods described in 2008 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Octopus insularis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_insularis) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_insularis?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.