How to identify an octopus?

[crazedpuffer]

We have a tiny (it's head is around 1 inch)octopus at my job, but I'm not sure what it is. All we know is that it is not a blue ring, bimac, or giant octopus. What things should I observe to find out it's species?

 

[crazedpuffer]

Re: How to identify an octopus?

Or at least to find if it;s a dwarf oct, medium, oct ect.

 

[Paul B]

By the taste

 

[crazedpuffer]

I guess that works!

 

[Animal Mother]

First would be to find out where the octopus was collected and narrow it down to species from that area.

Second, look for identifying features. False eye-spots, arm length vs. mantle size, typical colorations/patterns.

And there is always TONMO.com and www.cephbase.org

 

[crazedpuffer]

I've seen no false eye spots, and his arms are slightly longer than his mantle.
So far his color seems to be reddish brown and rather smooth. I'll find out more tomorrow though.

 

[gholland]

Color and texture are consistent with O. mercatoris... size doesn't exclude it, but then again, it could just be a juvenile of a larger species. Also, is it nocturnal or diurnal? Compare with pics of my mercs raised from eggs to adults:
http://www.tonmo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12919

Do you have any pics yet?

 

[crazedpuffer]

No not yet, it seems completely nocturnal though, all day it is in the same spot not moving, but in the morning when I go in he is moving about.
He did some pretty intense color changes, flashing red to white basically every second, also changing his texture for me from rough to smooth. He's quite amusing.
Also his tentacles are a bit longer than his mantle.

He does seem pretty similar to the ones you posted.