Enteroctopus magnificus

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Southern giant octopus

Enteroctopus magnificus is a large octopus found off Namibia and South Africa. It’s also known as the southern giant octopus and was once called Octopus magnificus. It belongs to the genus Enteroctopus.

Size and looks: This octopus can grow up to about 1.8 meters long and weigh around 11 kilograms. It has long folds on its body and large paddle-like structures on its skin, which are common for its group.

Where it lives: Its range runs from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It usually lives on sandy and muddy flats from shallow waters to depths of about 1,000 meters.

Predators and diet: It’s eaten by the South African fur seal and the leafscale gulper shark. It’s a generalist hunter, feeding mainly on the deep-sea crab Bathynectes piperitus, but also on Cape hagfish, certain crabs like Pontophilus gracilis, and hermit crabs.

Fishing and harvest: This octopus is caught mainly as bycatch in finfish trawl fisheries and in lobster pots. The overall harvest is small.