Enteroctopus megalocyathus, also known as Patagonian red octopus (EN), Pulpo del sur (Chile) and Pulpo colorado (Argentina); is a medium-sized
octopus, and the
type species for the genus Enteroctopus.
Size and description
E. megalocyathus is a relatively large octopus, though not as large as some other giant octopuses like
Enteroctopus dofleini. E. megalocyathus has an average mass of around 4 kg.[1] Although, some individuals have outweighed this and reached till 7.5 kg (M) and 8 kg (F).[2] A
mantle length of 22.5 cm,[3] and in excess of 1 m in total length,[4] but other author reported a max. total length in Chile of 1.3 m.[5]E. megalocyathus, like other octopuses in the genus Enteroctopus, has longitudinal folds and grooves on the body and large, paddle-like papillae.[6]
Fisheries
E. megalocyathus is one of the two commercially significant octopuses in
Chilean waters, along with Octopus mimus. Yearly catch of the two octopuses fluctuates between 2,000 and 5,000 tons.[1]
In Chile, his extraction ban date is from October 15 to March 15, and its range is from the Araucanía region to the Magallanes region,[7] and in regular season, only specimens weighing more than 1 kg are allowed to be extracted.[8]
Predators
Like most octopuses, E. megalocyathus is a choice meal for many predators larger than it. E. megalocyathus has been shown to be a major dietary component of beaked skates (Dipturus chilensis), spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias),[9] and the South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens).[10]
Its vertical range distribution in the water column is from 0 m depth (e.g. juvenile in intertidal rocky shore) to 220 m depth (e.g. seen in bottom crab traps) in Chile.[13]
Feeding ecology
In general it is an opportunistic predator and eats crabs, teleost fishes, some molluscs[14] e.g. clams, mussels, sea snails among other prey. In Southern Chile, specifically in
Los Lagos region, the adults octopuses prefer to eat big crabs like jaiba reina,[15] jaiba peluda[15] and even other E. megalocyathus as they are cannibal,[16] as well as other species; meanwhile the younger octopuses prefer to eat jaiba mora,[15] crab eggs, shrimp[17] and squat lobster or langostino de los canales.[18][14]
Aquaculture status
This species has high protein content and low-fat percentage. It also possesses a fast growth rate and easy weighing when feed with crab or crab moist[clarify] in rearing conditions;[19] thereby making it an ideal species to culture.
References
^
abPerez, M.C.; D.A. Lopez; K. Aguila; M.L. Gonzalez (2006). "Feeding and growth in captivity of the octopus Enteroctopus megalocyathus Gould, 1852". Aquaculture Research. 37 (6): 550–555.
doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2109.2006.01454.x.
hdl:10533/197709.
^Hochberg, F.G. (1998). Enteroctopus. In: Taxonomic atlas of the benthic fauna of the Santa Maria Basin and the Western Santa Barbara Channel. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, California. p. 203.
^
abIbáñez, & Chong (2008). "Feeding ecology of Enteroctopus megalocyathus (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) in southern Chile". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 88 (4): 793–798.
doi:
10.1017/S0025315408001227.
S2CID83871753.
^
abcIFOP, Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (2017).
"JAIBAS"(PDF).