Changos octopus (Octopus mimus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Changos octopus (Octopus mimus) is a marine species in the family Octopodidae (Mollusca › Cephalopoda › Octopoda), recorded in the World Register of Marine Species as Octopus mimus A. A. Gould, 1852 under AphiaID 342001.
Scientific classification
- OrderOctopoda
- FamilyOctopodidae
- GenusOctopus
- SpeciesOctopus mimus
Named by Gould, 1852
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 maya
- Octopus australis Octopus australis
- Octopus bocki
- Octopus chierchiae
- Octopus cyanea
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Octopus mimus (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 342001 (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
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.19 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: SeaLifeBase species summary
Where the changos octopus (octopus mimus) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (191 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 18 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Octopoda · Family: Octopodidae · Genus: Octopus.
Accepted name: Octopus mimus · Authority: A. A. Gould, 1852 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 342001.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=342001 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Octopus mimus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 19 cm · Depth range: 0–30 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.
SeaLifeBase notes: Total length is 120 cm (Ref. 96968). Benthic (Ref. 106857). Found in shallow waters (Ref. 105062) in rocky intertidal area (Ref. 106857).
Opportunistic predator. Feeds on bony fishes, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms and polychaetes. Occasionally exhibits cannibalism (Ref. 105056). Reported to perform hole-drilling on its prey (Ref 105064).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 57247) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Octopus-mimus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
191 georeferenced occurrence records for Octopus mimus are published through GBIF from 6 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 45 distinct locations from a sample of 191 records, omitting 18 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: Chile (151); Peru (29); Ecuador (5); Costa Rica (3); Colombia (2); Mexico (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Eastern South Pacific; Peruvian Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2289665) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2289665&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=342001 (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 mimus Gould, 1852 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 162974) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162974/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2289665) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2289665/iucnRedListCategory. 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 mimus (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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