Species profile
East Pacific Red Octopus
Octopus rubescens
Identify East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
At a glance
East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 2,666 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Washington, and British Columbia the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Ranges from Alaska to Baja California, the most common octopus on the U.S. West Coast.
- Bears a distinctive white saddle mark on the back of its mantle, useful for identification.
- Arm span typically reaches about 50 cm (20 inches) in adults.
- Found from rocky tidepools down to depths of around 100 meters.
- Drills through clamshells with its radula to inject venom and extract the soft tissue.
Where East Pacific Red Octopus are seen
Background
Octopus rubescens (Commonly the East Pacific red octopus, also known as the ruby octopus, a preferred common name due to the abundance of octopus species colloquially known as red octopus) is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast, and a ubiquitous benthic predator in these habitats. Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California at…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's East Pacific Red Octopus article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other octopus/squid on CatchRules
Frequently asked questions
What is East Pacific Red Octopus?
East Pacific Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens) is an IUCN Least Concern octopus/squid present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
What is the scientific name for East Pacific Red Octopus?
East Pacific Red Octopus is Octopus rubescens.
Are there fishing rules for East Pacific Red Octopus?
East Pacific Red Octopus does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify East Pacific Red Octopus?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes East Pacific Red 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.