Callistoctopus bunurong

Callistoctopus bunurong, the southern white-spot octopus, is a species of octopus in the family Octopodidae,[2] that can be found in Australia waters at depths of 1 to 130 meters[1] on sandy substrates.[3] It was originally placed in the genus Octopus, having the scientific name Octopus bunurong, but has been moved to the genus Callistoctopus.[2][3]

Southern white-spotted octopus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Octopodidae
Genus: Callistoctopus
Species:
C. bunurong
Binomial name
Callistoctopus bunurong
(Stranks, 1990)
Synonyms

Octopus bunurong Stranks, 1990

Description

The shape of C. bunurong is similar to an oval, containing long arms with narrow tips. Its coloration is red, orange, and white, with white spots covering all of the body, and transverse bands of smaller white spots along the arms of it. A white coloration of skin extends along the mantle on each side, and the size of the mantle can grow up to 48 centimeters in length. The webs of it are short, almost being transparent.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Its range is in Australia, off coasts of Western Australia, Southern Australia, Victoria, northern Tasmania, and southern New South Wales. It lives at depths from 1 to 130 meters, buries in sand and seagrass areas, and comes out at night to feed.[1][3]

Behavior

C. bunurong has the ability to dig into the sand quickly if in danger. The females of C. bunurong lay eggs that can develop well into young, and then settle to the seafloor after they have hatched. At night C. bunurong spends time outside of the sand searching for small crustaceans to eat.[3]

Conservation

There are no specific threats to this species, and has been listed as a 'Least concern' species by the IUCN Red List due to it having a wide range, but further research is needed to know more about its population size, life history and ecology.[1]

References
  1. Allcock, L.; Taite, M.; Allen, G. (2018). "Callistoctopus bunurong". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T163185A981407. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T163185A981407.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. Bieler R, Bouchet P, Gofas S, Marshall B, Rosenberg G, La Perna R, Neubauer TA, Sartori AF, Schneider S, Vos C, ter Poorten JJ, Taylor J, Dijkstra H, Finn J, Bank R, Neubert E, Moretzsohn F, Faber M, Houart R, Picton B, Garcia-Alvarez O, eds. (2022). "Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990)". MolluscaBase. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  3. "Callistoctopus bunurong (Stranks, 1990), Southern White-spot Octopus". Museums Victoria Collections. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
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