Abdopus abaculus, or themosaic octopus,[2] is a species of pygmy octopus.[3][4] It was first described asOctopus abaculus by M. D. Norman and M. J. Sweeney in 1997 based on specimens caught inZamboanga del Norte,Philippines.[5]
A. abaculus have amantle length of up to 33 millimetres (1.3 in) and a weight of up to 21 grams (0.74 oz).[6] Arms are 4.5 to 6 times the length of the mantle.A. abaculus is dark gray to dark purple with cream to light purple spots. It has up to 204 suckers on normal arms and up to 121 on hectocotylised arms.[7]
A. abaculus is found in the Philippines,[8] and has also been reported in Tonga,[7] Fiji,[9] and Japan.[10] It is found at depths of zero to five metres (0 to 16 ft).[6]
^Norman, M. D.; Sweeney, M. J. (1997). "The Shallow-water Octopuses (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) of the Philippines".Invertebrate Taxonomy.11: 89.doi:10.1071/it95026.ISSN1445-5226.
^Loganimoce, Epeli M.; Brown, Kelly T.; Savou, Rusila; Kitolelei, Jokim V.; Tukana, Max; Southgate, Paul C.; Lal, Monal M. (2023-04-08). "Octopuses in the south-west Pacific region: a review of fisheries, ecology, cultural importance and management".Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries.33 (4):977–1003.doi:10.1007/s11160-023-09772-9.ISSN0960-3166.
