This is what has led to the calculated average length of 17 feet for the species. Those that live closer to the coast and in shallower water are believed to be smaller than their deeper water cousins. While there is a sub-species that resides close to the coast of the Northwest of the United States and Canada, most prefer habitats in deeper water of the Pacific Ocean. While smaller octopus species can be found near coastal regions in habitats that include tidal pools and coral reefs, the Giant Pacific Octopus can be more elusive. Why Can’t They Just Search for a Larger One? No specimen that large has ever been actually documented. Of course, those potential sizes are estimated. Sizes of 45 to 50 feet are believed to be attainable with a potential weight of 1,000 pounds. In fact, many marine biologists speculate that these creatures frequently grow to sizes much larger than 30 feet. This doesn’t mean that the largest specimen documented was some sort of freak or aberration. Mind you, the average size of documented specimens of this species is 17 feet in length with a weight of 150 to 175 pounds. It was found washed ashore on the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The largest know specimen of a Giant Pacific Octopus measured 30 feet in length and weighed 600 pounds. This more or less coincides with the places of origin of many of the more credible old stories and legends. It is known to inhabit vast regions of the Pacific ocean - from the west coast of the United States all the way to Japan. The Giant Pacific octopus is the largest known species of octopus currently in existence. In the case of the existence of giant octopuses, yes, they do exist. It seemed as if the majority of the most credible giant octopus stories had origins in the Pacific Ocean.Įven big octopuses can fit through very small openings!Īs with most legends, there is usually a seed of truth to them. They were not as realistic as those from the Pacific.

Mariners in the Atlantic and other parts of the world also had tales of giant cephalopods but these were more “fantastic” in nature. American and Canadian whalers had the most detailed stories as well as Japanese fishermen and whalers. These old stories would make mention of octopuses as long as whales being caught in various parts of the Pacific ocean. The octopus having eight arms and the squid having a total of ten appendages extending from their heads. That is understandable since both animals are cephalopods and have similar-looking appendages. Sometimes these stories commingled giant squids with octopuses. You might be familiar with scary stories about sea monsters such as “the Kraken.” As recently as the 19th century and into the early 20th century, there was a lot of seafaring lore involving stories of gigantic octopuses.

Angry giant octopus