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Chapter 21
Octopus mimus
Óscar Zúñiga, Alberto Olivares and Carlos Rosas
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_21,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Ó. Zúñiga () · A. Olivares
Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Biológicos,
Universidad de Antofagasta, 170 Antofagasta, Chile
e-mail: ozr@vtr.net
A. Olivares
e-mail: aolivares@uantof.cl
C. Rosas
Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias,Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatán, México
e-mail: crv@ciencias.unam.mx
Abstract Octopus mimus (Gould 1852) is a member of the Octopodidae family. Its
distribution includes intertidal and subtidal rocky shore habitats along the Southeast
Pacific from northern Perú to Central Chile. The commercial supply of octopus has
been diminished due to overfishing in many key fisheries. This chapter presents
the results of the research on the reproduction of O� mimus in natural and captive
conditions and the application of this knowledge for the potential of aquaculture at
a commercial level. This species is particularly suitable for aquaculture; however,
commercial cultures cannot be conducted until sound knowledge about cultivation
technology and the physiology of the feeding processes in paralarvae are available.
On the other hand, our studies have demonstrated that adequate growth rates of
O� mimus reared in captivity can be obtained by feeding animals using a diet based
on a mix of fish, mollusc and crustacean blended in sausages.
Keywords Octopus mimus · Aquaculture · Reproduction · Paralarval rearing ·
Ongrowing in captivity
21.1 Importance of this Species in the Market
Octopus mimus Gould 1839, ‘pulpo común’ (common octopus) or ‘de los changos’ from South America is distributed from northern Perú (Tumbes) to Central
Chile (Bahía de San Vicente) inhabiting the littoral zone down to 30 m depth,
although there are no precise limits regarding its latitudinal and bathymetric distri-
Chapter 21
Octopus mimus
Óscar Zúñiga, Alberto Olivares and Carlos Rosas
J. Iglesias et al. (eds.), Cephalopod Culture, DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-8648-5_21,
© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2014
Ó. Zúñiga () · A. Olivares
Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y de Recursos Biológicos,
Universidad de Antofagasta, 170 Antofagasta, Chile
e-mail: ozr@vtr.net
A. Olivares
e-mail: aolivares@uantof.cl
C. Rosas
Unidad Multidisciplinaria de Docencia e Investigación, Facultad de Ciencias,Universidad
Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Puerto de Abrigo s/n Sisal, Yucatán, México
e-mail: crv@ciencias.unam.mx
Abstract Octopus mimus (Gould 1852) is a member of the Octopodidae family. Its
distribution includes intertidal and subtidal rocky shore habitats along the Southeast
Pacific from northern Perú to Central Chile. The commercial supply of octopus has
been diminished due to overfishing in many key fisheries. This chapter presents
the results of the research on the reproduction of O� mimus in natural and captive
conditions and the application of this knowledge for the potential of aquaculture at
a commercial level. This species is particularly suitable for aquaculture; however,
commercial cultures cannot be conducted until sound knowledge about cultivation
technology and the physiology of the feeding processes in paralarvae are available.
On the other hand, our studies have demonstrated that adequate growth rates of
O� mimus reared in captivity can be obtained by feeding animals using a diet based
on a mix of fish, mollusc and crustacean blended in sausages.
Keywords Octopus mimus · Aquaculture · Reproduction · Paralarval rearing ·
Ongrowing in captivity
21.1 Importance of this Species in the Market
Octopus mimus Gould 1839, ‘pulpo común’ (common octopus) or ‘de los changos’ from South America is distributed from northern Perú (Tumbes) to Central
Chile (Bahía de San Vicente) inhabiting the littoral zone down to 30 m depth,
although there are no precise limits regarding its latitudinal and bathymetric distri-