Southern sand octopus (Octopus kaurna)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Octopus kaurna, also known as the southern sand octopus, is an octopus native to the waters around the Great Australian Bight and Tasmania. It has an arm span of up to 50 cm with long, unusually thin tentacles joined at the base by webbing and studded with small suckers. The species was first identified by Timothy Nathaniel Stranks. Kaurna is the name of an Australian Aboriginal clan which lived in the Adelaide region of South Australia.
Scientific classification
- OrderOctopoda
- FamilyOctopodidae
- GenusOctopus
- SpeciesOctopus kaurna
Named by Stranks, 1990
Close relatives
Other species of Octopus with a Codexery entry.
- Chestnut octopus (Octopus conispadiceus) Octopus conispadiceus
- Hawaiian octopus (Octopus hawaiiensis) Octopus hawaiiensis
- Hubb's octopus (Octopus hubbsorum) Octopus hubbsorum
- Mexican four-eyed octopus Octopus maya
- Octopus australis Octopus australis
- Octopus bocki
- Octopus chierchiae
- Octopus cyanea
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Octopus kaurna (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 341988 (CC BY 4.0)
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD)
Data Deficient: there is not enough information to place this species on the risk scale.
Source: IUCN Red List assessment · GBIF copy of the Red List category
Where the southern sand octopus (octopus kaurna) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (200 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 17 inland records 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)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Octopoda · Family: Octopodidae · Genus: Octopus.
Accepted name: Octopus kaurna · Authority: Stranks, 1990 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 341988.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=341988 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Octopus kaurna. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Depth range: 0–50 m · Habitat zone: benthic.
SeaLifeBase notes: Nocturnal hunter of small crustacean prey. Buries itself under sand during the day using mucous to bind sand grains together (Ref. 096968).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 57860) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Octopus-kaurna.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
200 georeferenced occurrence records for Octopus kaurna are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 18 distinct locations from a sample of 200 records, omitting 17 inland records 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: Australia (200).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: South West Pacific Ocean; Southeast Australian Shelf.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2289655) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2289655&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=341988 (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 Octopus kaurna Stranks, 1990 as Data Deficient (code DD). 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 163199) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163199/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2289655) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2289655/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Unlike most octopuses, O. kaurna lacks color-changing chromatophors. However, it is able to hide from predators by burrowing itself in sand. The process begins with the octopus using its siphon to inject water into the sand, creating quicksand-like conditions which enable burrowing. Then, it uses its arms to burrow into the sand.
Two arms will be extended to the surface, creating a ventilation shaft. At the same time, O. kaurna will use mucus to stabilize the shape of the burrow. Finally, the octopus will retract its two arms and push out loose sand with its siphon, creating a mucus-lined, ventilated burrow to rest in. While many octopuses bury themselves in a shallow layer of sediment for camouflage, O. kaurna is the only known species to exhibit sub-surface burrowing.
Source: Wikipedia: Octopus kaurna — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_kaurna (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: Octopus kaurna (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).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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