When the public in general is asked, where do octopuses live? 99.9 percent will correctly answer “in the water.” The remaining 0.1% who answered differently probably followed their answer with, “bartender, I’ll have another drink.”

All joking aside, in order to have a clearer picture of the preferred habitats of the over 300 species of octopuses, it is important to know a few facts about why they live where they do.

Octopuses Live in Saltwater

Octopuses Live in Saltwater

All cephalopods, which include squids, cuttlefish, and octopuses, live in saltwater environments. This means that all 300 species of octopuses live in the oceans or connected seas.

There are rumors of freshwater octopuses in existence, however, none have ever been caught or proven scientifically to exist. As a matter of fact, throughout the 500 million-year-old fossil record of cephalopods, there is no record of any species having ever existed in freshwater.

This leads us to conclude that the so-called freshwater octopus is a mere myth.

Most Octopuses Live in Dens

Most Octopuses Live in Dens

The majority of octopuses — large and small — are solitary creatures. They really enjoy their privacy. For this reason, nearly all octopuses live in dens.

This is why it is common to find octopuses living near coral reefs or on the seafloor near rock beds. Some make their den out of crevices in the rocks and coral. Others use their creative building skills to construct dens out of rocks and shells.

Some octopuses that live near areas where the ocean has accumulated large amounts of litter have been known to use discarded bottles, cans, and other remnants of the modern world as construction material for their dens.

Never in One Place for Too Long

Never in One Place for Too Long

It can be said that octopuses are not the type of creatures to set roots in one place for too long. They are perpetual travelers. Rarely do they reside in one location for more than a few weeks. Most change the location of their dens every few days.

There is a reason for this. No, it doesn’t involve octopuses being wanted by the law and having to stay one step ahead of the cops. It has to do with their own safety and the availability of food.

Even though octopuses are very well equipped to defend themselves against predators, they are also smart enough to know that you should only pick a fight when absolutely necessary. This is why if an octopus detects the presence of potential predators near their den they will usually relocate at the earliest convenience.

Another reason for the constant moving has to do with food. If after a while, the hunting ground of the octopus starts showing a shortage of food, then the octopus will wisely move to a new location.

Preferred Ocean Depth

Preferred Ocean Depth

The depth of the water in which octopuses live depends on the individual species. For example, species such as the dumbo octopus are known to live in ocean depths that exceed one mile. They have become well adapted to that habitat.

There are also many other deepwater octopuses. Due to the depth of their home, they are among the species that marine biologists know the least about because it is difficult to observe them with regularity.

Other octopuses, such as the common octopus, live in shallower water. Some, in fact, live close to the shore which makes them easily accessible by divers and snorkelers.

Of course, being accessible and easily visible are two different things. Due to the octopus’ ability to camouflage itself by changing its skin color and texture to blend in with its background, a lot of amateur divers and snorkelers swim by octopuses and don’t even realize it.

Preferred Water Temperature

Preferred Water Temperature

Octopuses are mollusks. As such, they are cold-blooded. You would think that this would mean that the majority of species seek warm waters.

The reality is that octopuses can be found in areas of the ocean of both cold and warm water. Usually, the smaller the octopus species, the shallower the water in which it will reside, and therefore, the warmer it is. The larger species tend to live in deeper waters where the temperature is colder.

Just because an octopus species lives in the deepest parts of the ocean does not mean that it does not enjoy a bit of warm water. There is a specific variety of the dumbo octopus which, when brooding (the act of a female octopus caring for its eggs until they hatch), has been found doing so in areas where geothermal activity warms the surrounding water even at depths of six thousand feet.

What Oceans Do They Call Home?

What Oceans Do They Call Home?

Octopuses live in every ocean on the planet as well as the continuous seas and gulfs which emanate from them. Yes, this includes the Arctic ocean.

The northernmost species of octopus confirmed to live in the western portion of the Arctic ocean is the Canadian Arctic octopus. This fellow lives in waters up to 6000 feet deep and is another variant of the dumbo octopus species. (Yes, there are many dumbo varieties)

In Short, Octopuses Are Everywhere in the Ocean

In Short, Octopuses Are Everywhere in the Ocean

Having had over 500 million years to evolve and being extremely smart creatures, it should be no surprise that octopuses proliferate the oceans.

As you have read, water pressure does not stop them from making any depth of the ocean their home. Likewise, water temperature is not an impediment for them.

Coming in different sizes — from species which measure only inches to those which measure dozens of feet — octopuses have been able to colonize the seas with tremendous efficiency and great success.

The fact that there are over 300 species of octopus is a direct result of living in so many different habitats. Each species slowly evolved in order to best adapt to the living conditions of its immediate environment.

So, the next time you hear the question, where do octopuses live? You can still respond in agreement with the 99.9 percent and say “in the water.” But now you can also amplify your answer and sound very smart by adding, “in every ocean in the world and never in freshwater.”