Octopus Facts for Kids

20 Octopus Facts For Kids

1. Octopus is the common name for a large group of eight-limbed, soft-bodied mollusc in the Octopoda order.
2. Paleontologists have discovered fossil evidence of the ancestors of octopuses that was 330 million years ago.
3. You can easily identify an octopus species by is oval shaped head and eight arms that have suckers all over them.
4. The habitat range for octopuses includes every ocean around the world.
5. Octopus species have adapted to a wide range of marine habitats, some inhabit near the shore, while others live deep in the ocean.
6. The algae octopus (Abdopus aculeatus) is an example of an octopus species that lives along the ocean coastline in shallow water.
7. The vent octopus (Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis) is an octopus species that lives deep in the ocean near hydrothermal vents.
8. Virtually all octopus species are carnivorous and feed almost exclusively on marine animals.
9. The diet of an octopus usually includes clams, crabs, crustaceans, fish, mollusks, prawns, polychaeta worms, and shrimp.
10. Octopuses can eat prey with hard shells using a hard beak that covers their mouth.
11. There are around 300 species of octopus that have been scientifically described.
12. The color, size and habitat range of an octopus varies greatly by species.
13. The largest octopus species is the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) with an average weight of 33 pounds.
14. The smallest octopus species is the star-sucker pygmy octopus (Octopus wolfi) with an average weight of 0.04 ounces.
15. The deadliest octopus species is greater blue-ringed octopus (Hapalochlaena lunulata) which is one of the most toxic marine animals found in the ocean.
16. The lifespan of an octopus varies by species, some only live up to six months, while others live up to five years.
17. Octopuses are camouflage masters and use their camo skills for both hunting prey and avoid predators.
18. In addition to using camouflage to avoid predators, octopuses have an ink sac that can shoot out a black colored cloud to confused anything threatening it.
19. Octopuses are extremely intelligent marine animals and have shown the ability to problem solve and recall things via memory.
20. The Kraken was a mythical beast that had the appearance of an octopus and would destroy ships at sea.

Octopus Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on octopuses. Below are three pictures of various octopus species. These pictures should help you better understand the different types of octopuses found around the world.

A picture of the common octopus (octopus vulgaris).

A picture of the Caribbean reef octopus (octopus briareus).

A picture of the big blue octopus (octopus cyanea).