Graneledone boreopacifica

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.

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 2026-09-23.