Graneledone boreopacifica
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
NOAA/MBARI · via Wikipedia: Graneledone boreopacifica · Public domain
Graneledone boreopacifica is an octopus in the family Megaleledonidae. It can be found in both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
Scientific classification
- OrderOctopoda
- FamilyMegaleledonidae
- GenusGraneledone
- SpeciesGraneledone boreopacifica
Named by Nesis, 1982
Close relatives
Other species of Graneledone with a Codexery entry.
- Graneledone macrotyla Graneledone macrotyla
- Graneledone yamana Graneledone yamana
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Graneledone boreopacifica (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 342222 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
- LC▲ this species
- NT
- VU
- EN
- CR
- EW
- EX
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
Where the graneledone boreopacifica has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (89 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 1 inland record left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Authority
- Nesis, 1982
- Family
- Megaleledonidae
- Order
- Octopoda
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 89
Facts from the source article.
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Octopoda · Family: Megaleledonidae · Genus: Graneledone.
Accepted name: Graneledone boreopacifica · Authority: Nesis, 1982 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 342222.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=342222 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Graneledone boreopacifica. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Habitat zone: benthic.
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 57187) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Graneledone-boreopacifica.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
89 georeferenced occurrence records for Graneledone boreopacifica are published through GBIF from 2 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 29 distinct locations from a sample of 89 records, omitting 1 inland record that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: United States of America (63); Canada (26).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Northern North Pacific; Sea of Okhotsk.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2289459) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2289459&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=342222 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Graneledone boreopacifica Nesis, 1982 as Least Concern (code LC). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 163292) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163292/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2289459) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2289459/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The holotype of this species measures 9 cm in mantle length.
A female Graneledone boreopacifica was observed in the Monterey Canyon by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, brooding her eggs for a record 53 months, making this the longest egg-brooding period known in the animal kingdom. There is no evidence that females ever feed again after laying their eggs. This timespan also makes it the longest-living octopus; most octopuses only live for 1 or 2 years, which this octopus beats with its brooding period alone. Female Graneledone boreopacifica tend to brood their eggs between the depths of 1,200 and 2,000 m; the eggs were never unattended.
Examination of the gut of this octopus revealed significant amounts of crushed gastropod shells (Provanna variabilis and Lepetodrilus fucensis). The mandible muscles exhibit remarkable strength to crush the shells before digestion.
Graneledone boreopacifica is found in benthic zones in temperate climates.
The type specimen was collected in the Pacific Ocean (50°N, 151°E) and is deposited at the Zoological Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Source: Wikipedia: Graneledone boreopacifica — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graneledone_boreopacifica (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Graneledone boreopacifica (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List assessment.
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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