Bighead Octopus

Octopus vitiensis Hoyle, 1885

DIAGNOSIS.—Animal small (15 mm ML). Mantle oblong, narrower posteriorly; no neck region; head wider than mantle width; eyes large, prominent. Funnel organ W-shaped with limbs nearly parallel. Arms moderate in length (ALI 72), arm order III > II > IV > I. Suckers large (SIn 13), deeply set, sucker surface about level with arm surface. Inner margin of sucker ring bears row of about 15 fleshy beads, outer edge of aperture with about 30 beads. Penis small. Dorsal surface of mantle with few granular paplllae; few, scattered, larger paplllae on head; area around eyes pustulate, with single, large, multifid, supraocular cirrus above and slightly posterior to eye. Surfaces of arms covered with small, round granules that also surround suckers. Color in preservation (ethanol) dark grey, almost black on dorsum and outer surface of arms. Ventral surface of mantle and oral surface of arms pale.

ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION.—Hoyle, 1885:226.

TYPE LOCALITY.—Western South Pacific Ocean, Fiji, Kandavu, on reefs.

TYPE.—Holotype: BMNH 89.4.24.24, male, 15 mm ML, poor condition.

DISTRIBUTION.—Known only from the type locality.