Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
Abstract
A new species of octopod, Octopus magnificus, is described based on a total of 131 specimens from the southeastern Atlantic. The species has been collected from 26°03′S, 13°43′E to 34°29′S, 25°36′E between 2–560 m of depth, mainly on fine sandy bottom. The species is characterized by its large overall size, long ligula, the anatomy of the male reproductive tract, the shape of the funnel organ, skin loose and elongate folds present in live animals. O. magnificus is compared to three large octopuses, namely O. dofleini, O. maorum and Enteroctopus megalocyathus
