Giant Pacific octopus rescued at Haystack Rock -- Get to know the world’s largest octopus

A giant Pacific octopus, the largest and longest living octopus species in the world, was rescued near Haystack Rock earlier this month after struggling in the waves and rocky areas along the beach.

The crawling creature was first spotted at around 9:30 a.m., June 7, 2023, as the tide was going out between Haystack Rock and the Needles, another nearby rock formation. The person who saw it contacted Haystack Rock Awareness Program who quickly sent a team to return the eight-legged cephalopod back to deeper waters. It hasn’t been seen since.

Here are some fascinating things to know about the giant Pacific octopus

According to Dominic Sivitilli, who studies octopus cognition at University of Washington, each suction cup on their tentacles has far more capabilities than any human finger. The suckers have sensors that include not just feeling, but also smell and taste. Sivitilli says there are 500 million neurons throughout its body and most of them are in their arms. He also said, that like cats, they love boxes. They have no bones, allowing them to squeeze into and through tiny places.
The giant Pacific octopus is common from Baja California to Alaska, and across the Pacific to Russia and Japan, in waters up to 2,500 feet deep.
Their maximum lifespan is just four to five years, which is the longest of any octopus species. They grow to a tentacle span of 16 feet and weigh over 100 pounds. Both males and females die soon after breeding. They have three hearts and eight arms.
Both National Geographic and The Guinness Book of World Records claim the largest specimen ever found was about 600 pounds, with a tentacle span of 30 feet.
Giant Pacific octopus have a diverse diet of crustaceans, fish, squid and other octopuses. One was photographed in an aquarium eating a spiny dog fish, a shark that can reach four feet long.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Wildlife, they can use the suction discs on their arms to unscrew the lids of jars — from inside the jar.
The behemoth can change colors not only for camouflage, but to express emotion.
In captivity, the curious critters recognize specific people.
Though heavily fished, they are not considered endangered.