Ecology Summary - Octopus cyanea

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Ecology of Octopus cyanea

Main Ref.	Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney and C.E. Nauen, 1984
Remarks	Shallow-water benthic species inhabiting coral reefs and found in a variety of substrata (Ref. 81543). Occupies lairs in coral bedrock, live and dead coral heads and excavations in sand and rubble (Ref. 96968). In naturally-occurring holes on rocks or dens (Ref. 81543). Males and females can occupy adjacent dens (Ref. 96968). Juveniles rapidly form homes and defend these against conspecifics (Ref. 105171). Opportunistic predator that predominantly uses tactile foraging methods (Ref. 81543). Reported to pounce and capture crabs. Another feeding strategy involves speculative hunting where an individual uses its interbrachial web to cover and explore with the tips of its arms the coral heads, rocks or clumps of algae (Ref. 105172). Feeds primarily on bivalves, gastropods and xanthid crabs. Employs crypsis in reaction to threat (Ref. 81543). Exhibits diurnal activity (Ref. 105171). Day-active species with higher activity peaks at dusk and dawn (Ref. 96968).

Main Ref.

Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney and C.E. Nauen, 1984

Remarks

Shallow-water benthic species inhabiting coral reefs and found in a variety of substrata (Ref. 81543). Occupies lairs in coral bedrock, live and dead coral heads and excavations in sand and rubble (Ref. 96968). In naturally-occurring holes on rocks or dens (Ref. 81543). Males and females can occupy adjacent dens (Ref. 96968). Juveniles rapidly form homes and defend these against conspecifics (Ref. 105171). Opportunistic predator that predominantly uses tactile foraging methods (Ref. 81543). Reported to pounce and capture crabs. Another feeding strategy involves speculative hunting where an individual uses its interbrachial web to cover and explore with the tips of its arms the coral heads, rocks or clumps of algae (Ref. 105172). Feeds primarily on bivalves, gastropods and xanthid crabs. Employs crypsis in reaction to threat (Ref. 81543). Exhibits diurnal activity (Ref. 105171). Day-active species with higher activity peaks at dusk and dawn (Ref. 96968).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Octopus cyanea may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic: mobile; Soft Bottom: sand; Hard Bottom: rocky; rubble;
Substrate Ref.	Forsythe, J.W. and R.T. Hanlon, 1997
Special habitats	Coral Reefs: reef slope/drop-offs; reef flats; lagoons; Other habitats: tunnels;
Special habitats Ref.	Forsythe, J.W. and R.T. Hanlon, 1997

Associations

Ref.	Roper, C.F.E., M.J. Sweeney and C.E. Nauen, 1984
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Forsythe, J.W. and R.T. Hanlon, 1997
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Forsythe, J.W. and R.T. Hanlon, 1997

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	original sample		unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition
From individual food items	3.55	0.62			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.

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