Giant Pacific Octopus
(Octopus dofleini)

image of a Giant Pacific Octopus

Image ID: 218-01

Other shots:  image of a Giant Pacific Octopus  image of a Giant Pacific Octopus  image of a Giant Pacific Octopus  image of a Giant Pacific Octopus  image of a Giant Pacific Octopus
Comments : This is a close-up of one of the 2" suckers on a 5.5' Giant Pacific Octopus I was fortunate enough to encounter at Three Tree Point on a night dive. These suckers are very powerful. If the octopus wants to hold on to something with several of these suckers (like my mask), I would have a hard time getting it to let go. In fact, I would have to wait for the octopuses' curiosity to be satisfied so it would let go on it's own. Octopus are very tactile animals and actually can taste things through their suckers.
Common name : Giant Pacific Octopus
Scientific Name : Octopus dofleini
Location Found : Three Tree Point, Central Puget Sound
Actual Size : +5.5 feet long, 8 foot arm span
Camera Used : Sea & Sea MMII EX 16mm lens
Natural History :