Common Octopus
Octopus vulgaris
Sighting evidence at Sound of Mull, Oban
Photo: Susanne Spindler · CC BY-NC-ND
Common octopus reach the northernmost extent of their regular range in the Sound of Mull, appearing in the warmer months from June through to October. They den in crevices among boulders and are active hunters at dusk and night, with daytime dives often revealing a tell-tale midden of crab and scallop shells outside a den entrance. Their presence is sensitive to sea temperature and their occurrence here makes the Sound of Mull a valuable long-term indicator site for climate-driven range shifts.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Common Octopus is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.