Graneledone boreopacifica
Graneledone boreopacifica is an octopus in the family Megaleledonidae. It can be found in both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
Description
The holotype of this species measures in mantle length.A female Graneledone boreopacifica was observed in the Monterey Canyon by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, brooding her eggs for a record 53 months, making this the longest egg-brooding period known in the animal kingdom. There is no evidence that females ever feed again after laying their eggs. This also makes it the longest-living octopus — most octopuses only live for 1 or 2 years — which this octopus beats with its brooding period alone. Female Graneledone boreopacifica tend to brood their eggs between the depths of ; the eggs were never unattended.
Examination of the gut of this octopus revealed significant amounts of crushed gastropod shells. The mandible muscles exhibit remarkable strength to crush the shells before digestion.