Mexican four-eyed octopus (Octopus maya)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Octopoda · Family: Octopodidae · Genus: Octopus.

Accepted name: Octopus maya · Authority: G. L. Voss & Solís, 1966 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 341996.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=341996 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Octopus maya. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 12 cm · Depth range: 0–100 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial.

SeaLifeBase notes: Total length is 130 cm (Ref. 96968). Minimum depth from Ref. 96968. It was also known to be caught by artificial lures and dipnets. In the 1980's catch was reported from 5000 to 8000 tonnes annually.

Then in 2000, it was estimated around 9000 tonnes (Ref. 96968). This is a benthic and subtidal species found in rocky and seagrass bottoms (Ref. 83938). Also inhabits empty coral shells (Ref. 275) and coral reefs (Ref. 96968).

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 58208) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Octopus-maya.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

60 georeferenced occurrence records for Octopus maya are published through GBIF from 4 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 14 distinct locations from a sample of 60 records, omitting 8 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: Mexico (54); Panama (3); Italy (2); Bahamas (1).

Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: West Central Atlantic; Gulf of Mexico.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2289607) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2289607&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=341996 (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 maya Voss & Solis, 1966 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 163006) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163006/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2289607) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2289607/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-25.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

Octopus maya can be identified by its large, double-ringed ocellus (a false eye spot) and large egg size (averaging 17 mm). The mantle is muscular, large, and oval in shape. There is some variation in the definite shape of the posterior end of the mantle, but all are fairly narrow and meet the head at a characteristically narrow neck.

Females grow to be larger than males, weighing in at 1024 g with mantles measuring 124 mm. Males grow to be about 484 g with mantles 91 g long. They are usually dark brown in color but may turn red when agitated.

They are also able to mimic the color of the sand on the seafloor. The ocellus is a dark red brown and found directly beneath the eye between the second and third arm. It has been found in depths between 3 and 25 m along the continental shelf of the Yucatán Peninsula.

Habitat

Campeche Bank is located off of the Yucatán Peninsula in the Gulf of Mexico. It extends about 125 mi into the Gulf where it suddenly drops off, ending at the Alacran Reef.

There are very low levels of sediments along the Bank between the shore and the reef. The benthic environment in this region can be characterized by fine carbonate sand. The strong currents the flow westward along the bank year round likely contribute to the nature of the benthic sand and lack of sediments.

Diet

Octopus maya is known to feed primarily on benthic prey such as crustaceans, bivalves, fish, gastropods, other octopuses, and even birds. Two specific prey items that O. maya commonly feeds on are blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and the crown conch snail (Melongena corona bispinosa). Neurotoxins in O. mayas saliva cause temporary paralysis in its prey, allowing for easier consumption. This paralytic also works on conspecifics, leading researchers to believe that it is used in territorial defense as well as intraspecific competition.

Beyond the chemicals found in their saliva, not much is known about hunting techniques specific to O. maya. However, looking at sister taxa, including the closely related Common Octopus (Octopus vulgaris), can shed some light on likely mechanisms used by O. maya. O vulgaris has been observed using its strong suckers to restrain its prey, while carrying the victim toward its mouth. The octopus can then inject the organism with saliva, drilling holes into the bodies of shelled organisms such as crabs and bivalves using its beak as necessary, and consume its prey.

Lifespan and reproduction

Octopus maya is semelparous, meaning that females die following a single round of reproduction. Males are able to reproduce multiple times during their reproductive phase, but only survive for a single spawning season. This period of activity during which males actively search for a mate makes them much more vulnerable to predators. The male will fertilize the female's eggs internally, then the female will carry them within her body for between 14 and 50 days until spawning.

The spawning process lasts approximately 5 days, during which the female will deposit her eggs in a den for incubation. The female blows jets of water over the strands of eggs to keep them clean and ventilated, as well as providing protection to them until hatching. During this period, the female will not leave the eggs to eat, resulting in her death shortly after her offspring hatch. The incubation period for O. maya typically lasts between 30 and 35 days, although there may be individual variation.

Conservation and climate change

Octopus maya is sensitive to temperatures exceeding 27 C. As increased temperatures it suffers a decrease in fitness and reproductive capabilities. Thus, rising ocean temperatures pose a serious threat to this species.

Source: Wikipedia: Octopus maya — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_maya (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.