# Common octopus (*Octopus vulgaris*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/common-octopus  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is a mollusc in the class Cephalopoda and the family Octopodidae, placed in the octopuses subgroup. It was named by Cuvier, 1797, and other English names for it include Octopus, Scuttle, Kolkrabbi, Rock scuttle and Mediterranean octopus. Its lifespan is given as 1.5 years, with values reported by sources ranging from 1 to 4 years. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category, and the figure for young per litter or eggs per clutch is 80,000.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 1 year – 4 years |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Young per litter or clutch | 80,000 |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Mollusca
- class: Cephalopoda
- family: Octopodidae
- genus: Octopus
- species: *Octopus vulgaris* Cuvier, 1797

Synonyms: *Octopus albus*, *Octopus americanus*, *Octopus bitentaculatus*, *Octopus brevitentaculatus*, *Octopus cassiopea*, *Octopus cassiopeia*, *Octopus coerulescentes*, *Octopus coerulescentes*, *Octopus granulatus*, *Octopus heteropus*, *Octopus incertus*, *Octopus maculatus*, *Octopus moschatus*, *Octopus niger*, *Octopus niger*, *Octopus octopodia*, *Octopus pilosus*, *Octopus rabassin*, *Octopus ruber*, *Octopus rugosus*, *Octopus tetradynamus*, *Octopus tritentaculatus*, *Octopus troscheli*, *Octopus troschelii*, *Octopus tuberculatus*, *Octopus tuberculatus*, *Octopus tuberculatus*, *Octopus vulgaris americanus*, *Sepia granulata*, *Sepia octopus*, *Sepia polypus*, *Sepia rugosa*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the common octopus?

The common octopus is a mollusc in the class Cephalopoda and the family Octopodidae, within the octopuses subgroup.

### What is the scientific name of the common octopus?

Its scientific name is Octopus vulgaris, in the genus Octopus.

### Who named the common octopus and when?

The scientific name Octopus vulgaris is credited to Cuvier, 1797.

### How long does the common octopus live?

Its lifespan is given as 1.5 years, and sources report values from 1 to 4 years.

### Is the common octopus endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses it globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

### How many eggs or young does the common octopus have?

The figure given for young per litter or eggs per clutch is 80,000.

### What other names does the common octopus have?

Other English names include Octopus, Scuttle, Kolkrabbi, Rock scuttle and Mediterranean octopus.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/common-octopus