Changos octopus (Octopus mimus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List.
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 name
- Octopus mimus
- Authority
- A. A. Gould, 1852
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Order
- Octopoda
- Maximum length
- 19 cm
- Depth range
- 0–30 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 191
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 2026-09-23.
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 2026-09-23.
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 2026-09-23.
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 2026-09-23.
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