FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

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Octopodidae 815
Octopus marginatus Taki, 1964
Frequent synonyms / misidentifications: Octopus striolatus
Dong, 1976 / Octopus aegina Gray, 1849.
FAO names: En - Sand bird octopus (from Chinese “Saa liu”);
Fr - Poulpe des sables; Sp - Pulpo reticulado.
Diagnostic characters: Moderate-sized octopus. Arms short, 2
to 3 times mantle length. Dorsal arms slightly shorter than other
arms (arm formula IV=III=II.I or III.IV=II.I). Right third arm of
males hectocotylized with small ligula (1.5 to 3.5% of arm
length). Gills with 9 to 11 lamellae per demibranch. Up to 150
suckers on each normal arm, 60 to 85 on hectocotylized arm of
male. Mature males possess 4 to 5 slightly enlarged suckers (7th to 11th )onarmsII and III. Colour: pattern typically orange-brown
to purple with dark reticulations defining distinct patches in
irregular longitudinal rows; suckers white to pink contrasting
against dark brown to black along leading edge of arms I to
III; narrow transverse “head bar” visible in live animals; white
triangle below each eye; dark reticulations distinctive on
lateral arm crown in same position as false eye-spots in ocellate
species; skin sculpture of regular patches separated by distinct
grooves; diamond of 4 longitudinal skin ridges on dorsal mantle
and large papilla over each eye.
Size: Maximum mantle length around
100 mm, total length to around
300 mm; weight to 400 g.
Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Known
from coastal muddy waters on mud
and sand substrates, subtidal to
depths of at least 190 m. Little known
of biology or behaviour.Females lay up
to 100 000 small eggs, up to 3 mm
long. Important fisheries species collected
by trawlers, pots and lines. Taxonomy
confused with Octopus aegina
(treated above) and O. kagoshimensis
from Japan.
Distribution: Found in tropical continental
waters of the Indian Ocean,
from the Red Sea and East Africa to lateral view of head
Southeast Asia and eastern Australia.
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dorsal view