Diguet’s Octopus, Paroctopus digueti

Diguet’s Octopus, Paroctopus digueti. Total length: 8.0 cm (3.1 inches). Octopus purchased from Soriana’s, San Jose del Cabo, Baja California Sur.

Phylogeny:   c, Paroctopus digueti (Perrier and Rochebrune, 1894), is a member of the Octopodidae Family of Octopuses. The genus Paroctopus is one of twenty-three genera in this family, and there are three species in this genus. Diguet’s Octopus is also known as the Pacific Pygmy Octopus and the Mexican Pygmy Octopus and in Mexico as pulpo de Diguet or pulpo pigmeo Mexicano.

Morphology:  Diguet’s Octopus is a fairly small octopus, reaching a maximum of 25 cm (10 inches) in length. Their arms are about three times the length of the web. It is normally tan in color, but may change to a variety of shades of gray, brown, or red. The skin is usually smooth, but the octopus may display papillae.

Habitat and Distribution:  Diguet’s Octopus is an epibenthic species that is found over mud and sand substrate from the intertidal zone to depths up to 36 m (120 feet). They often take up residence in empty gastropod shells, under single bivalve valves, or in bottles, cans, and other debris. Diguet’s Octopus is a resident of the Pacific Ocean but it is found only in the Gulf of California, from Puerto Peñasco, Sonora to Mazatlán, Sinaloa.

Diet:  Diguet’s Octopuses are predators, feeding primarily on small crustaceans including brachyuran crabs and hermit crabs.

Predators:  Diguet’s Octopuses are eaten by fish, crustaceans, shore birds, and sea lions.

Reproduction: Diguet’s Octopuses are gonochoric (male or female for life). During copulation, male grasp the female and inserts the hectocotylus (a modified arm designed to transfer sperm from the male to the female) into the female’s mantle cavity where fertilization occurs. The male and female adults usually die shortly after spawning and brooding, respectively. The eggs are often attached to the inside of bivalve or gastropod shells. The embryos hatch into a planktonic stage and live that way for some time before they take up a benthic existence. Newly hatched octopuses look similar to the adult phase; they do not pass through a larval phase.

Ecosystem Interactions:  Information specific to the relationship Diguet’s Octopus with other organisms has not been documented. Octopuses in general are know to host various type of parasites including annelids, cestodes, crustaceans, and protists .

Human Interactions:   Artisanal octopus fishing throughout Mexico is an important trade  that  provides jobs and food. Diguet’s Octopuses are sold commercially in the major Mexican food markets at prices that are similar to those of Squid. They are also utilized as a quality cut bait. From a conservation perspective Diguet’s Octopus is currently considered to be of Least Concern with stable populations. However, overfishing can impact local populations.

Synonym: Octopus digueti