User:Ella.wiegman/Octopus salutii

Octopus salutii
Also known as the spider octopus which is a species of cephalopods in the family Octopodidae. It ranges from 4.0 to 13.0 cm ML in males and 3.5 to 16.5 cm ML in females. Octopus Salutii are found at depths ranging from 100 to 700m however, they are most abundant at depths of 250 to 500m.

Synonyms:
Octopus Salutii Verany, 1840 & Naef, 1923

Ecology
Octopus salutii are marine benthic organisms that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and Northeast Atlantic, from southern Spain to Morocco. Western Mediterranean sea salutii inhabit the lower continental self and the upper slope. Found between the depths of 250 to 500m. Western Mediterranean Sea juveniles inhabit inaccessible areas to avoid trawlers and use the shelfs as reproductive grounds. This species has little to no interest to the market because of its poor consistency of the mantle.

Reproduction
O. salutii lay up to 2,000-4,000 eggs at a time which are 5.2 to 6.0 mm long. Offspring's are planktonic for the first stage of their life. Four life cycles; egg, larva, juvenile and then adult. Males usually die a few months after mating and females will die shortly after hatching the eggs.

Anatomy
The Biology of Octopus salutii is poorly known. This is because the species has no value to the market and is difficult to catch for research purposes. To identify the maturity of the species there are 3 stages to clear; immature (ovaries are white, small), maturing (ovaries are yellowish with granular structures), and mature (ovaries full of eggs)


 * Body Symmetry:
 * bilateral symmetry; symmetric about a plane running from frontal end to head/tail end.
 * Auditory
 * statocyst
 * eyes
 * lens eyes
 * Prey
 * Western Mediterranean Sea species stomach content included 33 different prey belonging to 3 major taxonomic groups. 87% being crustaceans, 25% being fish and 10% being cephalopods.
 * Predator:
 * Grampus griseus, in the family Delphinidae.
 * Reproduction:
 * Male O. salutii have a well-developed ligulae which is used to transfer the sperm from the male to the female.
 * Male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding.