Species profile
Day Octopus
Octopus cyanea
Identify Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app. Plus current fishing rules across 1 jurisdiction.
At a glance
Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 796 research-grade iNaturalist observations, concentrated in Hawaii.
Notable details
- Unlike most octopuses, it actively hunts prey during daylight hours.
- Can change color and skin texture in under one second to match any surface.
- Range spans the entire Indo-Pacific, from Hawaii to the Red Sea and East Africa.
- Arm span can reach 80 cm (about 32 inches) in large adults.
- Adults typically live only 12–15 months before dying shortly after reproduction.
Where Day Octopus are seen
Jurisdictions with rules for Day Octopus
Background
Octopus cyanea, also known as the big blue octopus or day octopus, is an octopus in the family Octopodidae. It occurs in both the Pacific and Indian Oceans, from Hawaii to the eastern coast of Africa. O. cyanea grows to 16 cm in mantle length with arms to at least 80 cm. This octopus was described initially by the British zoologist John Edward Gray in 1849; the type specimen was collected off…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Day Octopus article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other octopus/squid on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is Day Octopus?
Day Octopus (Octopus cyanea) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for Day Octopus?
Day Octopus is Octopus cyanea.
Is Day Octopus regulated for fishing?
Yes — Day Octopus has fishing regulations in 1 U.S. state and/or Canadian province tracked by CatchRules. See the "Jurisdictions with rules" section above for the binding-source links.
How can I identify Day Octopus?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes Day Octopus along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.