Video footage of a giant rare Pacific octopus became viral on social media after it was found swimming in tidepools in Northwestern Oregon.

A Giant Pacific octopus is rarely seen as it can adapt to its environment and become elusive to the human eye.

Giant Pacific Octopus in Northwestern Oregon

Rare Appearance: Giant Pacific Octopus Swims in Tide Pools in Northwestern Oregon
(Photo : by KURT DESPLENTER/AFP via Getty Images)
Rare Appearance: Giant Pacific Octopus Swims in Tide Pools in Northwestern Oregon

However, a recent US Department of the Interior video showed the rare giant Pacific octopus roaming around a tidepool in Northwestern Oregon.

According to the Facebook post, Luke Smith from the Bureau of Land Management filmed and found the giant Pacific Octopus.

The video amazed many social media users because of its magnificent appearance and moving without effort in tidepools.

The video post had 84,000 interactions, 3,500 comments and 3.8 million views.

According to the US Department of the Interior, the giant Pacific Octopus was heading to Yaquina Head tidepools in Oregon.

The report said that the octopus could disguise itself based on their environment to evade predators and catch their preys.

Meanwhile, Fox13 Seattle reported that the red octopus crawled over the tiny spaces under rocks.

Fox13 Seattle added that the skin of the said octopus has essential cells that help them camouflage.

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Furthermore, the video of the rare octopus is small. According to Newsweek, a fully-grown giant Pacific octopus could reach up to 50 pounds, living in parts of Asia, Mexico and the United States.

Last year, the Global News reported that a Canadian caught a rare Northern giant Pacific octopus wrapped around a trap.

The resident was surprised after discovering the giant Pacific octopus. Then, the octopus finally let go of the trap and returned to the ocean.

Did you know? More facts about giant Pacific Octopus

According to Oceana, the giant Pacific octopus has the scientific name Enterotopus dofleini which swims in the Northern Pacific, Japan, Alaska and California.

From the name itself, the Pacific octopus is a popular giant octopus in the world. They are considered highly intelligent in adapting to their environment.

Oceana added that the giant Pacific octopus could be recognized by their prominent reddish color. They can change colors using their chromatophores or pigment cells, allowing them to adjust to a given environment color.

Their species can be found under 100m underwater, enjoying their time to look for possible prey.

The giant octopus doesn't live with groups of the same species, but they like to hunt alone. They feed on fish, shrimp, lobsters and smaller aquatic animals.

  • Unlike other aquatic species, the giant Pacific octopus is amazing by having nine brains and three hearts.
  • The said octopus can live from two to three years.
  • Giant octopuses can repopulate more as female octopuses can lay eggs up to 70,000. Mother octopuses stay with their eggs for about seven months.

Oceana added that the population of giant Pacific Octopus is not threatened.

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