Spider octopus (Octopus salutii)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Octopus salutii or the spider octopus is a species of cephalopods in the family Octopodidae. It ranges from 4.0 to 13.0 cm ML in males and 3.5 to 16.5 cm ML in females. Octopus salutii are found at depths ranging from 100 to 700m however, they are most abundant at depths of 250 to 500m.
- Scientific name
- Octopus salutii
- Authority
- Vérany, 1839
- Family
- Octopodidae
- Order
- Octopoda
- Maximum length
- 16.5 cm
- Depth range
- 70–700 m
- Habitat zone
- benthic
- Iucn red list
- Data Deficient
- Gbif occurrence records
- 432
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Mollusca · Class: Cephalopoda · Order: Octopoda · Family: Octopodidae · Genus: Octopus.
Accepted name: Octopus salutii · Authority: Vérany, 1839 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 140604.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Octopus saluzzii Naef, 1923; Octopus saluzzii Vérany, 1840.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140604 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)
Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Octopus salutii. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 16.5 cm · Depth range: 70–700 m · Habitat zone: benthic · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: commercial.
SeaLifeBase notes: Minimum depth from Ref. 105634. Benthic (Ref. 1970). Inhabits the lower continental shelf and upper slope. Feeds on crustaceans (Reptantia and Natantia), fish and cephalopods (Ref. 106837).
Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 57884) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Octopus-salutii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
432 georeferenced occurrence records for Octopus salutii are published through GBIF from 8 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 62 distinct locations from a sample of 432 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: Spain (406); France (13); Portugal (7); Greece (2); Australia (1); Croatia (1); Morocco (1); Malta (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: European waters (ERMS scope); East North Atlantic; Mediterranean Sea; Azores Exclusive Economic Zone; Moroccan Exclusive Economic Zone; Turkish part of the Aegean Sea.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2289518) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2289518&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=140604 (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 salutii Vérany, 1839 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 163208) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163208/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2289518) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2289518/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Octopus saluzzii Vérany, 1840 & Naef, 1923
Octopus salutii are marine benthic organisms that can be found in the Mediterranean Sea and Northeast Atlantic, from southern Spain to Morocco. Western Mediterranean sea salutii inhabit the lower continental shelf and the upper slope. Found between the depths of 250 to 500m. Western Mediterranean Sea juveniles inhabit inaccessible areas to avoid trawlers and use the shelfs as reproductive grounds. This species has little to no interest to the market because of its poor consistency of the mantle.
Predators - Grampus griseus, in the family Delphinidae.
Prey - Western Mediterranean Sea species stomach content included 33 different prey belonging to 3 major taxonomic groups. 87% being crustaceans, 25% being fish and 10% being cephalopods.
Male O. salutii have a well-developed ligulae which is used to transfer sperm to the female. O. salutii lay 2,000-4,000 eggs at a time which are 5.2 to 6.0 mm long. Offspring's are planktonic for the first stage of their life. Four life cycles; egg, larva, juvenile and then adult. Males and females will die shortly after. Male usually die a few months after mating and female adults usually die shortly after hatching the eggs.
The Biology of Octopus salutii is poorly known. This is because the species has no value to the market and is difficult to catch for research purposes. To identify the maturity of the species there are 3 stages to clear; immature (ovaries are white, small), maturing (ovaries are yellowish with granular structures), and mature (ovaries full of eggs).
Geographical location: North Atlantic from southern Spain to Morocco, and Mediterranean Sea.
Source: Wikipedia: Octopus salutii — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_salutii (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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