Animals

Giant Pacific Octopus

Giant Pacific Octopus

What has 8 arms, 9 brains and about 2,240 suction cups? The Giant Pacific Octopus! The largest of all octopus species, it’s found all throughout the Pacific, from southern California to Alaska, west to the Aleutian Islands and Japan. An octopus can creep and crawl along the seafloor without being spotted thanks to its chromatophores. These are the color changing pigments that help an octopus change color and even texture.
 

Animal Enrichment

The Giant Pacific Octopus is considered to be one of the most intelligent animals in the ocean! At  Birch Aquarium, we engage our resident octopus in enrichment sessions — like a variety of toys and even treats tucked into puzzles — to give our octopus some mental and physical stimulation. During this time our aquarists bond with our octopus, complete an overall wellness check and ensure that she is eating all her food.