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| cephalopods text index | photo index |
| Phylum Mollusca > Class Cephalopoda > Family Octopodidae |
| Two-spot
reef octopus awaiting identification* Family Octopodidae updated Aug 10 Where seen? This active and colourful animal is the most commonly seen octopus near our reefs and coral rubble areas. It is frequently encountered on many of our Southern shores and it is a rare night visit where one is not seen in a suitable habitat. It is more active at night. Features: Head about 5-8cm long, arms may be 15-30cm long. Arms tapering. Webbing extends to about half the arm's length. It often has two white spots or white rings on the heads, above the eyes; and a bigger white spot or white ring under the eyes. These marking often remain white or light, even as the rest of the body changes colours. Sometimes, white spots may also appear along the arms as the octopus changes colours and patterns. It can change colours and the texture of the skin. Here's more colour changes and texture changes seen, and some encounters with mating octopuses. Mimicking other sea creatures? Some octopuses on the Northern shores were seen with their arms arranged to form a flat profile as they moved over the sand. Were they mimicking a flatfish? Or is this just a convenient way to move when you have that many arms? There's a lot we have yet to learn about these amazing animals. |
 Raffles Lighthouse, May 04  A pair of small white spots above eyes, big white ring under eyes. |
 Tentacles arranged to form a flat profile. Mimicking a flatfish? Chek Jawa, Aug 05 |
 This octopus changed both its colour... Sisters Island, Jul 04 |
 ... and texture! |
Two-spot reef octopuses on Singapore shores
 Mating octopuses Pulau Jong, Oct 06 |
 Using web as a net to trap prey. Pulau Hantu, Aug 04 |
 Web spreading out along the sides of the tentacle. Labrador, May 06 |
 Labrador, Jul 05 |
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video clips and more photos of two-spot reef octopuses on Singapore shores
northern shores part 1
southern shores part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5
colour changes part 1 | part 2
texture changes | mating
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination. On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
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