Dumbo octopus has soft, head-shaped body with 8 arms.
They are connected with each other via thin flaps of the skin. Two ear-like fins
are positioned on both sides of the "head".
Males and females can be distinguished by the length
of the suckers. Males have longer suckers and two tentacles that play role
during mating.
Color of the body can be red, green or orange.
Arms and flippers are used for swimming. Arms are
equipped with small harpoon-like barbs that are designed to hold the prey.
Dumbo octopus can swim by flapping the fins, by
contracting and expanding its arms or by propelling the water from the funnel.
Animal can use each of these techniques separately or swim by combining all of
them.
Fastest swimming is associated with quick release of
water from the funnel. This technique is used when dumbo octopus needs to escape
from the predators.
Since dumbo octopus spends most of its life on the
great depths, it does not have a lot of predators. Main predators of dumbo
octopi are sharks and killer whales.
Dumbo octopus swallows the prey whole. For that
reason, size of the prey never exceeds 1-2 mm.
Dumbo octopus does not have mating season. Female is
able to deposit eggs throughout the whole year.
One arm of males has a large segment that is used to
deliver packages of sperm into female's body.
Eggs are fertilized inside the female's body. She
stores the eggs in different phases of development inside her body. Eggs that
reach required maturity will be released and placed under the rocks or shells.
Female does not take care of the youngsters. Length of
the hatching period is unknown. Newly born dumbo octopi are large in size, well
developed and able to survive on their own.
Average lifespan of dumbo octopus is between 3 and 5
years.
They are connected with each other via thin flaps of the skin. Two ear-like fins
are positioned on both sides of the "head".
Males and females can be distinguished by the length
of the suckers. Males have longer suckers and two tentacles that play role
during mating.
Color of the body can be red, green or orange.
Arms and flippers are used for swimming. Arms are
equipped with small harpoon-like barbs that are designed to hold the prey.
Dumbo octopus can swim by flapping the fins, by
contracting and expanding its arms or by propelling the water from the funnel.
Animal can use each of these techniques separately or swim by combining all of
them.
Fastest swimming is associated with quick release of
water from the funnel. This technique is used when dumbo octopus needs to escape
from the predators.
Since dumbo octopus spends most of its life on the
great depths, it does not have a lot of predators. Main predators of dumbo
octopi are sharks and killer whales.
Dumbo octopus swallows the prey whole. For that
reason, size of the prey never exceeds 1-2 mm.
Dumbo octopus does not have mating season. Female is
able to deposit eggs throughout the whole year.
One arm of males has a large segment that is used to
deliver packages of sperm into female's body.
Eggs are fertilized inside the female's body. She
stores the eggs in different phases of development inside her body. Eggs that
reach required maturity will be released and placed under the rocks or shells.
Female does not take care of the youngsters. Length of
the hatching period is unknown. Newly born dumbo octopi are large in size, well
developed and able to survive on their own.
Average lifespan of dumbo octopus is between 3 and 5
years.