20 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



OCTOPI OF CALIFORNIA* 



By J. B. Phillips 



From time immemorial it lias been customary for the layman to 

 a])i)ly the term "devil" to animals that have a fearful appearance 

 or to animals to which the ])ower of creating evil has been attributed. 

 It is not surprising that the term "devil" has been applied to the 

 octopus in view of its long, snaky, writhing arms covered with numerous 

 suckers, and the soft, muscular body with sinister-looking eyes. This 

 a]iprehensive appearance has been heightened by various tales woven 

 around a very few facts. Altogether, the term "devilfish" is mislead- 

 ing as it is subject to local or personal interpretation, whereas the term 

 octopus in this particular ease is a descriptive and universally accepted 

 name. 



POPULAR DESCRIPTION OF COMMON OCTOPUS 



Briefly an octopus may be described as an invertebrate marine 

 animal having a large head and a small sac-like body above eight arms 

 that are more or less united at the base by a membrane. The arms 

 are usually provided with two rows of suckers by means of which they 

 cling to rock or prey. Ordinarily, the octopus lives on the bottom along 

 a rocky coast and moves on and off shore amongst the rocks in search 

 of food. In times of danger, it retreats into the openings and recesses 

 among the rocks. The octopus breathes by taking in oxygen-laden 

 water through a slit in the neck portion of the body. This water passes 

 over feather-like gills in the body cavity and is forced out through 

 a funnel-like siphon that is visible on the right side of the neck portion. 

 Locomotion is accomplished in two different w^ays. When frightened, 

 the octopus can rocket itself backward by a series of sudden contrac- 

 tions of the body, rapidly taking in and expelling jets of water. 

 Oi'dinarily, the octopus moves about on tlie bottom by lengthening and 

 contracting its eight muscular arms. Loss of an arm only incon- 

 veniences it temporarily as it can grow another. 



The octopus is somtwhat of a scavenger as well as a fresh flesh 

 eater. It shows particular liking for rock crabs which it stalks and 

 ilrops on from above. Several crabs can be held at one time and are 

 eaten by tearing off the legs and getting to the soft inner parts from 

 the under side. A pair of chitinous beak-like jaws, situated within the 

 mouth of the octopus, is an aid in such cases. The octojius also feeds 

 on abalones and mussels. Abalone divers tell of occasionally finding 

 an octopus patiently exerting pressure on an abalone. The abalone 

 eventually tires and relaxes, even as an oyster gives in to a starfish. 

 The octopus can also open mussels in a similar manner. The powerful 

 grip of the oetoinis is due to the vacuum created by lifting up the floor 

 of the sucker, while the rim of the sucker is attached, and then dropping 

 the floor. 



 Contribution No. 137 from the California State Fisheries Laboratory, Novem- 

 ber 8, 1933. 



