Species · GBIF taxon 2289216
Seven-arm Octopus
Haliphron atlanticusAlso known as Blob Octopus, Septopus
Seven-arm octopuses drift through the open ocean, using their gelatinous, semi-translucent bodies to blend into the deep-sea gloom. Despite their common name, they possess eight arms, but males keep the specialized mating arm tucked inside a pouch beneath the right eye, making it appear as though they have only seven. These massive cephalopods often associate with giant jellyfish, hitching rides and feeding on their stinging tentacles.
Deep-seaGiganticPelagic
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Jellyfish
- Salps
- Pelagic Crabs
Predators
- Sperm Whale
- Blue Shark
- Swordfish
ThreatsDeep-sea commercial fishing, climate change, and plastic pollution
HabitatsMesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of open oceans
Life spanEstimated 1 to 2 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyAlloposidae
- SpeciesHaliphron atlanticus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Encountered only in the deep ocean, posing no risk to humans.
Responsible observation
- Submersible Sightings: Look for them during deep-sea ROV dives in the twilight zone.
- Bycatch Reporting: Report any specimens accidentally caught in deep-water fishing nets to marine researchers.
Size Rival "Giant Pacific Octopus" by jurvetson is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Image unavailableDeep-sea Neighbor Pelagic Relative
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