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Megaleledone

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Genus of octopuses

Megaleledone
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Order: Octopoda
Family: Megaleledonidae
Genus: Megaleledone
Taki, 1961
Species: M. setebos
Binomial name
Megaleledone setebos
(Robson, 1932)
Synonyms
  • Graneledone setebos
    Robson, 1932
  • Megaleledone senoi
    Taki, 1961
  • Pareledone senoi
    (Taki, 1961)

Megaleledone setebos, the giant Antarctic octopus, is a very large venomous octopus with a circum-Antarctic distribution. It grows to at least 28 cm in mantle length and 90 cm in total length. M. setebos feeds by drilling small holes in large, shelled mollusks, and then injecting its toxic saliva. The venom even works at subfreezing temperatures.

This species was transferred to the genus Megaleledone and synonymised with Megaleledone senoi in a 2003 paper.

References

  1. ^ Allcock, A.L.; Hochberg, F.G. & Stranks, T.N. (2003). "Re-evaluation of Graneledone setebos (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) and allocation to the genus Megaleledone". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 83 (2): 319–328. doi:10.1017/S0025315403007148h. S2CID 82256628.
  2. "Antarctic octopuses found with cold-resistant venom". Reuters. July 22, 2010.
Taxon identifiers
Megaleledone senoi


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