Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Mollusca

Class: Cephalopoda

Order: Octopoda

Family: Octopodidae

Genus: Octopus

Species: O. vulgaris

Conservation Status
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The common octopus is the most well-known octopus, and ranges from 1-4 feet in length including its 8 arms and can weigh up to 20 pounds. These octopuses have a smooth skin that is lined with suckers which help them to grasp objects and even taste. Their skin also has cells that can change color due to different pigments.

The common octopus, like others, have no internal shell and are invertebrates. They have a large head and eyes. The common octopus has a highly developed nervous system and has as many as 500 million neurons in its body.
The common octopus can be found in all waters over the world, excluding the extreme polar and subpolar regions. They are concentrated in the Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Atlantic Ocean and in waters near Japan.

These octopuses live under the water, around surfaces of 300 to 500 feet deep. They inhabit coastal waters and prefer tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters.

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The common octopus will primarily feed on crabs and other crustacean species such as crayfish and mollusks. The common octopus will use the suction cups on their body to capture prey.

The common octopus is an intelligent and active hunter which likes to hunt its prey at dusk. Due to their skin changing color, they can blend in with surroundings and jump upon prey.
Common octopuses reproduce only once in their life, but during this mating the female will lay between 50,000 to 200,000 eggs. These eggs are laid in shallow water and are usually attached to some substrate, often coral reefs.

The female will stay with the eggs for 4-5 months until they hatch, cleaning them and defending them from prey. However, despite laying a multitude of eggs, less than 1% of these eggs will make it to adulthood.

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The common octopus has three hearts! One functions to send oxygenated blood to the body, and the other two are close to the gills and pump blood through them.

The common octopus has blue blood, which has evolved to help them survive in the deep ocean. Their blood turns blue because instead of using iron, they use copper to help better efficiently transport oxygen in their body.