Octopus Red Spot Night

Callistoctopus dierythraeus, commonly called the Red-Spot Night Octopus, is a nocturnal cephalopod found throughout the tropical and subtropical reef systems of northern Australia. This species is recognized for its vivid orange-red coloration marked with pale white spots and its tendency to remain closely associated with a single shelter or den during daylight hours.

Key Characteristics

• Appearance:

  The species displays orange to reddish skin covered with white spots and raised papillae. Two of its dorsal arms are noticeably longer than the remaining arms.

• Color Change Response:

  When threatened or disturbed, the octopus can quickly reverse its coloration, becoming predominantly white while its red spots become more pronounced.

• Behavior:

  As a strictly nocturnal hunter, it spends the daytime concealed within rocky crevices or rubble habitats and emerges at night to prey on small crustaceans and fish.

• Habitat and Dens:

  Its lairs are commonly located in coral reef and intertidal environments. These dens are often identifiable by piles of discarded mollusc and bivalve shells surrounding the entrance.

• Size:

  Adult individuals may reach a total length of approximately 80 cm, with mantle lengths averaging around 13.5 cm.