FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes Western

Octopodidae 825
Octopus exannulatus Norman, 1993b
En - Plain-spot ocellate octopus.
Small octopus (maximum mantle length 50 mm) with short arms (2 to 3
times mantle length). 120 to 190 suckers on normal arms of adults, 60
to 80 on hectocotylized arm of male. Gills with 7 or 8 lamellae per
demibranch. In mature males, 2 or 3 very large suckers on arms II and
III (10 th to 12 th ). Eggs small, to 4 mm. Skin covered in regular oval to
round papillae. Colour: cream with 4 black stripes along dorsal
mantle and arm crown; plain ocellus without iridescent ring; black
lines along leading edge of arms. Shallow sand and mud substrates
to depths of at least 84 m. Small harvest in Australia, primarily as bait.
Indo-Malayan area from Philippines, to Thailand, and northern Australia.
Octopus mototi Norman, 1993b
En - Poison ocellate octopus (from Rapa, Rapa Is., “Fe’e motot”).
Moderate-sized octopus (maximum mantle length 70 mm) with short to
moderate arms (2.5 to 3 times mantle length). In adults, 140 to 170
suckers on normal arms, 90 to 110 on hectocotylized arm of male. Gills
with 9 to 11 lamellae per demibranch. No distinct enlargement of suckers
in mature males. Eggs small, to 6 mm. Skin covered in regular polygonal
patches. Colour: resting colour of orange with ring of 5 large black
spots above each eye; 6 longitudinal rows of spots on dorsal mantle
which become solid maroon stripes in live alarm displays; ocellus
with large iridescent blue ring. Sand and coral rubble substrates to
depths of 54 m. No fisheries value, potentially venomous as for blueringed
octopuses. Reported as poisonous on Rapa Island. Occurs in at
least the western and southern tropical Pacific Ocean.
ocellus dorsal view
ocellus
dorsal view