Megaleledone setebos, the giant Antarctic octopus, is a very large octopus with a circum-Antarctic distribution. It grows to at least 28 cm in mantle length and 90 cm in total length.[1] M. setebos feeds by drilling small holes in large, shelled mollusks, and then injecting its toxic saliva. The venom even works at subfreezing temperatures.[2]
| Megaleledone | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Mollusca |
| Class: | Cephalopoda |
| Order: | Octopoda |
| Family: | Megaleledonidae |
| Genus: | Megaleledone Taki, 1961 |
| Species: | M. setebos
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| Binomial name | |
| Megaleledone setebos (Robson, 1932)
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| Synonyms | |
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This species was transferred to the genus Megaleledone and synonymised with Megaleledone senoi in a 2003 paper.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Antarctic octopuses found with cold-resistant venom". Reuters. July 22, 2010.
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