An octopus is any eight-armed cephalopod mollusk of the order Octopoda. The true octopuses are members of the genus Octopus, a large group of widely distributed shallow-water cephalopods. Learn more about the anatomy, behavior, and reproduction of octopuses in this article.

Octopuses are exclusively marine mollusks that constitute the order Octopoda within Cephalopoda, a class that also includes squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids. They are easily recognized by the presence of eight arms that radiate from a central point around the mouth.

There are around 300 species of octopus and they are found in every ocean. Most live on the seafloor, but some, like the paper nautilus, drift nearer to the surface. Octopuses mostly feed on...

Octopuses, those whip-smart, bizarre cephalopods, embody everything creepy and mysterious about the sea. Their soft, squishy bodies, lurking in the oceans’ dark reaches, have inspired monsters...

Octopuses are soft-bodied, eight-armed cephalopod mollusks in the order Octopoda, known for advanced nervous systems, flexible bodies, camouflage via chromatophores, and complex behaviors such as problem-solving and tool use.

Octopuses live in coastal marine waters and spend much of their time in dens—small holes and crevices in rocks and coral. They are generally solitary and territorial. Moray eels, fish, seals, sperm whales, sea otters, and many birds prey on octopuses.

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