Identification Photos: Two-Spotted Octopus, Octopus bimanculatus: Two-Spotted Octopus has a variable color that can quickly change from mottled brown (as pictured below), gray, red, or rusty to yellow-green with two fake starburst eyespots below its real eyes which are located on the web between the second and third and fourth and fifth arms that can be turned on or off.

The adult male Two-Spotted Octopus has one or two specialized enlarged suckers on arms two and three. The Two-Spotted Octopus has a warty skin not found in most octopi. The sexes are similar in size and appearance.

The Two-Spotted Octopus is found under intertidal and subtidal rocks and in crevices up to 150 feet deep in the water column. It ranges in total length from 10 to 18 inches and is found in all Mexican waters.

The Two-Spotted Octopus is very similar to the California Two-Spot Octopus, Octopus bimaculoides, which has a blue chain eyespot. The Two-Spotted Octopus feeds primarily on bivalve mollusks. It is collected by Mexican commercial divers throughout the Sea of Cortez, seriously impacting population levels. Scientific information about the lifestyle of this species is limited and we believe we have the correct identification of the specimen pictured below. However, we welcome additional comments and pictures of other octopi found in Mexican waters.

The Two-Spotted Octopus is a member of the Octopodidae Family which includes all octopi, known in Mexico as pulpos. They are cephalopods inhabiting a diverse region of the ocean, from the interdial zone to moderate depths and especially in and around coral reefs and tidal pools. All have eight legs, usually with sucker cups. They have the ability to quickly change shape, skin texture, and color, blending into their environment. When stressed these octopi can shoot out a cloud of ink as a smokescreen and vanish. They are also capable of biting, with a beak found in the middle of the eight legs, delivering a small amount of toxin that is adequate to paralyze crabs and small fish, but which is generally harmless to humans. Females attach eggs to a sheltered area in rocks often as in an overhang or in small caves. They are highly intelligent and have very short life spans which on average are two years. They remain of interest to the scientific community due to their ability to tell the difference between colors and shapes, which they can retain for up to two years. In some parts of the world, including Mexico, they are consumed as food.

Two-Spotted Octopus, Octopus bimanculatus: Caught with Capt. Pata in the panga Salomé, in 73-degree, 100-foot deep water, in March 2008, utilizing traditional bottom fishing gear, 10 miles north of La Playita, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Mantle size, 9.5 cm; total size, 39 cm. Description and photos courtesy of John Snow.