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Species of the month

North Pacific Giant Octopus

Enteroctopus dofleini

Some facts about this octopus:

Arm span: Up to 4.3 meters.
Weight: About 15 kg, but can reach to 71 kg.
Life-span: 3–5 years in the wild.
Range: Coastal North Pacific.
Diet: Shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalone, clams, and fish.
Predators: Harbor seals, sea otters, and sperm whales.
Dwelling depth: Around 65 meters deep.

Enteroctopus dofleini isn't something you want to run into when you swim. It is considered the largest octopus around, and can eat even sharks. It lays up to 100,000 eggs which are carefully cared for by the female. Hatchlings are about the size of a grain of rice, but grow fast. During reproduction, the male deposits a sperm packet measuring more than 1 meter across.

(Archived from Template:Species of the week)