Southern Sand Octopus

Octopus kaurna

Octopus kaurna - Southern Sand Octopus
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Size: 40 cm

Distribution: All SA coastal and gulf waters

Habitat: Sandy areas

Depth: Subtidal to 10+ metres

Octopus kaurna - Southern Sand Octopus

This small octopus creates a hollow den in the sediment to bury itself during the day, only emerging after dark to feed in sandy areas. A uniform cream to orange-red colour, this octopus does not have chromatophores, and cannot change colour. It can be distinguished by its extremely long arms without obvious webbing between them, its uniform colour, and its body, which can be drawn into an elongate cigar shape.