Just how “giant” can a giant Pacific octopus get? They are known to average 16 feet in length from the tip of one tentacle across to the opposite tentacle and weigh between 50-90 pounds when fully grown. This should be especially impressive since they are only about the size of a grain of rice when born. An octopus can maneuver through small openings despite its large size. The animal is incredibly flexible because the only hard part on the octopus’ body is the beak, or the mouth of the animal.

Trek through the Cold Water Quest gallery to visit with our giant Pacific octopus.

• Each arm has two rows of suckers and may have as many as 1,800 suckers.
• The octopus can rapidly draw water into the mantle and expel it forcefully out of its body, propelling it backward.
• It can squirt ink at an attacker and escape while hidden by the ink cloud.
• When it becomes excited, it can quickly change the color and texture of its skin.
• The female giant Pacific octopus can lay between 18,000 to 100,000 eggs.

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