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Chapter 18
Amphioctopus aegina
Jaruwat Nabhitabhata
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_18,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
J. Nabhitabhata ()
Excellence Centre for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand (CBIPT),
Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
e-mail: jaruwat.n5@gmail.com, jaruwat.n@psu.ac.th
Abstract The marbled octopus, Amphioctopus aegina, is a moderately sized benthic octopus, inhabiting muddy substrates in the coastal zone of the Indian and
Western Pacific Ocean. Capture fishing of octopus in these regions includes this
species. The aquaculture methodology comprises collection of broodstocks from
the wild, nursing of the eggs and brooding females, nursing of the planktonic young
and growout of the benthic young. All phases of the culture process prior to growout
can be performed on a small scale with a 50-L tank. The general task for feeding
is to feed planktonic food to the planktonic young for about 30 days, and to then
provide benthic food after the settling stage. Culturing of Amphioctopus aegina as
a model for scientific experiments and home aquaria is the future commercial task.
Keywords Amphioctopus aegina · Benthic octopus · Planktonic young · Nursing ·
Growout · Small scale
18.1 Importance of this Species in the Market
Amphioctopus aegina, the marbled octopus, is a moderately sized benthic octopus
with a mantle length (ML) of 40–100 mm. This species is quoted in fishery statistics
under the name Octopus dollfusi, its junior synonym (Nateewathana 1997; Norman
and Hochberg 2005). Its distribution is wide in the coastal zone of the Indo-West
Pacific region, from 30° to 140°E and from 40°N down to 20°S (Roper et al. 1984;
Norman 1998). This species is common in this region and inhabits sand and muddy
sand areas (Nateewathana 1997). The marbled octopus is solitary with crepuscular
behaviour. They live in holes and defend their home territories (Promboon et al.
2011). Amphioctopus aegina reproduces all year-round, at least in the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea, Pacific Ocean. The highest reproduction peak is during
March to May, i.e. summer to the early rainy season (Phanichpong 1985).
Chapter 18
Amphioctopus aegina
Jaruwat Nabhitabhata
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_18,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
J. Nabhitabhata ()
Excellence Centre for Biodiversity of Peninsular Thailand (CBIPT),
Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90112, Thailand
e-mail: jaruwat.n5@gmail.com, jaruwat.n@psu.ac.th
Abstract The marbled octopus, Amphioctopus aegina, is a moderately sized benthic octopus, inhabiting muddy substrates in the coastal zone of the Indian and
Western Pacific Ocean. Capture fishing of octopus in these regions includes this
species. The aquaculture methodology comprises collection of broodstocks from
the wild, nursing of the eggs and brooding females, nursing of the planktonic young
and growout of the benthic young. All phases of the culture process prior to growout
can be performed on a small scale with a 50-L tank. The general task for feeding
is to feed planktonic food to the planktonic young for about 30 days, and to then
provide benthic food after the settling stage. Culturing of Amphioctopus aegina as
a model for scientific experiments and home aquaria is the future commercial task.
Keywords Amphioctopus aegina · Benthic octopus · Planktonic young · Nursing ·
Growout · Small scale
18.1 Importance of this Species in the Market
Amphioctopus aegina, the marbled octopus, is a moderately sized benthic octopus
with a mantle length (ML) of 40–100 mm. This species is quoted in fishery statistics
under the name Octopus dollfusi, its junior synonym (Nateewathana 1997; Norman
and Hochberg 2005). Its distribution is wide in the coastal zone of the Indo-West
Pacific region, from 30° to 140°E and from 40°N down to 20°S (Roper et al. 1984;
Norman 1998). This species is common in this region and inhabits sand and muddy
sand areas (Nateewathana 1997). The marbled octopus is solitary with crepuscular
behaviour. They live in holes and defend their home territories (Promboon et al.
2011). Amphioctopus aegina reproduces all year-round, at least in the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea, Pacific Ocean. The highest reproduction peak is during
March to May, i.e. summer to the early rainy season (Phanichpong 1985).