Species profile
Atlantic White-spotted Octopus
Callistoctopus macropus
At a glance
Atlantic White-spotted Octopus (Callistoctopus macropus) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid regulated in 4 of 66 jurisdictions tracked by CatchRules across the U.S. and Canada.
Bag limits are uniform at 1 per angler across the 3 regulating jurisdictions.
Notable details
- Recognized by vivid white spots scattered across a reddish-brown body.
- Has proportionally longer arms relative to body size than most octopus species.
- A nocturnal predator, it shelters in crevices during the day and hunts crustaceans at night.
- Found in warm waters of the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean.
- Like all octopuses, it can change color and skin texture within milliseconds for camouflage.
Jurisdictions with rules for Atlantic White-spotted Octopus
Background
Callistoctopus macropus, also known as the Atlantic white-spotted octopus, white-spotted octopus, grass octopus or grass scuttle, is a species of octopus found in shallow areas of the Mediterranean Sea, the warmer parts of the eastern and western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Indo-Pacific region. This octopus feeds on small organisms which lurk among the branches of corals.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Atlantic White-spotted Octopus article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other octopus/squid on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.