The Giant Pacific Octopus can be found in the coastal North Pacific, usually at a depth of around 215 ft. It can, however, live in much shallower or much deeper waters. It is arguably the largest octopus species, reaching up to 156lbs with an arm-span of up to 14ft. The lifespan of this creature is only 3-5 years. It makes up for this by laying up to 100,000 eggs which are intensely cared for by the female, who will die protecting the eggs.
This massive and alluring species of octopus commonly preys upon shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalone, clams, and fish. Food is procured with its suckers and then crushed using its tough "beak" of chitin. It has been observed in captivity catching spiny dogfish of up to four feet in length.
Hashem gave this creature a gift: an ability to hide from dangerous enemies lurking in the ocean dark. The mantle (or cloak) of the octopus is spherical in shape and contains most of the animal's major organs. By contracting or expanding tiny pigment-containing granules known as chromatophores which consist of complex multi cellular organs, it is able to rapidly change its color. The octopus can do so in order to enable itself to blend in with the environment. It thus disguises itself from its predators.
