Atol das Rocas: an oasis for Octopus insularis juveniles (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)

Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve serves as a critical oasis for juvenile Octopus insularis, with the highest population density recorded at 0.30 individuals per 100 m² in the Mapas area. This study reveals that O. insularis exhibits a strong preference for rocky substrates and small crabs, accounting for 70.5% of its diet, including species like Xanthodius denticulatus (38.5%) and Microphrys bicornutus (18.5%). The research employed visual censuses in fixed quadrants to analyze den characteristics, octopus size, substrate types, and food remains, identifying 454 prey items across 22 taxa. These findings underscore the specialized predatory behavior of O. insularis and highlight the ecological significance of Atol das Rocas for the development of this cephalopod species in northeastern Brazil.

Bouth, H. F., Leite, T. S., Lima, F. D. d., & Oliveira, J. E. L. (2011). Atol das Rocas: an oasis for Octopus insularis juveniles (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Zoologia (Curitiba), 28(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1984-46702011000100007