Amphioctopus marginatus (Taki, 1964)
Coconut octopus

These relatively small octopi are found at muck sites. The common name comes from their habit of using a couple of coconut shell halves as a mobile refuge they can carry with them in barren sandy areas. None of our numerous photos below show them with the coconut shells, but they often substitute a variety of other items to hide out in, including otherwise empty mollusk shells, discarded bottles and other debris. The octopi can also bury themselves in the sand very quickly.

Using clam shells to hide.

Inside a glass bottle.

With Strombidae shell.

Captured prey.

Created 24 March 2025

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