Md. Norman, OCTOPUS ORNATUS GOULD, 1852 (CEPHALOPODA, OCTOPODIDAE) IN AUSTRALIAN WATERS - MORPHOLOGY, DISTRIBUTION, AND LIFE-HISTORY, Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 106(4), 1993, pp. 645-660
The morphology, distribution, and life history of the ''white-striped
octopus,'' Octopus ornatus Gould, 1852, from Australian waters are rep
orted. Information gathered on habitat preferences, activity patterns,
foraging behavior and diet also are presented. Australian representat
ives of this species are described and compared with the neotype from
Hawaiian waters. Prior reports of O. ornatus from Australia refer to a
related species, Octopus aspilosomatis Norman, 1993a. Distributional
records from Asia, the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean are pr
esented. The known distribution of O. ornatus extends from Easter Isla
nd and the Hawaiian islands, west to eastern Africa. Delineation of O.
ornatus from related taxa is discussed.