Class Cephalopoda
Squid and octopus arose from gastropod ancestors to become some of the most highly evolved invertebrates. Their relative brain size rivals that of vertebrates and is far larger than any other invertebrate group. Squid rival fishes in their mobility and dominance as open-ocean predators. 1000 living species.
Order Teuthoidea
Order Octopoda
Doryteuthis opalescens (Berry, 1911)
Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Order Teuthoidea, Family Loliginidae
Market squid; 10 appendages (8 arms, 2 long tentacles) mantle length 17-19 cm.
Seasonally abundant near shore; spawning aggregations lay large communal egg masses on sand in deeper water.
Geogr. Range: British Columbia to Baja
Synonyms: Loligo opalescens
Similar species:
Octopus rubescens Berry 1953
Phylum Mollusca, Class Cephalopoda, Order Octopoda, Family Octopodidae
Common octopus; 8 arms, mantle length 10 cm; body red-brown but capable of altering color, color pattern & body texture very rapidly; lacks obvious paired eye spots below eyes near base of arms.
Common but very cryptic & rarely seen. Nocturnal. Semi-permanent dens under rocks, in holdfasts, and other sheltered sites.
Geogr. Range: Alaska to Baja
Synonyms:
Similar species: species of octopus are difficult to distinguish, especially when small.