Octopus (creature)

The Octopus (タコ, Tako) is a fish (in and ) and sea creature (in  and ) that can be caught from September to January and from March to July. It can be sold for 800 Bells. While initially absent from, Octopuses were added in the 1.3.0 Free Summer Update in July 2020.

In
"I think Octopus, and I think fried octo-bits, eh wot? That said, I have to say my all-time favorite has to be octo-potpie. Hoo hoo!"

In
Blathers's comment is as follows:

"Ah, yes, hoo, the octopus. Did you know the blood of the octopus is actually colored blue? With its eight legs and predilection for spewing ink...you'd think people would be repulsed by it. And yet, perhaps due to its fetching shape, the octopus remains one of the most loved sea creatures!"

The Octopus appears in the back tank, staying in the rock crevice towards the right. If the Octopus is placed in a home, it appears in a medium square tank with rocks so it can live in the crevice.

In
The Octopus is now classed as a sea creature rather than a fish, meaning that it is no longer caught by using a fishing rod; rather, the player must dive underwater once they have obtained a wet suit. After being donated, it can be found hiding in a pot in the large pool in the first room of the Sea exhibit. The exhibit has this to say about the Octopus:

"Many people think octopuses have eight legs, but those are not legs. Their tentacles are actually arms. They have a strange anatomy, with their head located between their body and arms. The flexible arms are perfect for catching all kinds of crab, shrimp, and shellfish, especially in reefs. When attacked by predators, octopuses emit a black ink that spreads through the water. This greatly reduces visibility and allows them to escape, making them highly skilled at disappearing."

In
When donating to the museum, Blathers will say the following:

"With its eight limbs, three hearts and surprisingly big brain, the octopus is quite the wonder! It is also an escape artist like no other! You see, the octopus has specialized skin cells that can change color and texture with lightning speed. Thus it can look for all the world like a patch of seabed one minute...and a pile of rocks the next! But the deception doesn't stop there, wot wot. When attacked by a predator, the octopus releases a cloud of ink and -POOF- makes its escape! Let's just call the octopus what it is, shall we? The ninja of the deep!"

Further information
Octopus rubescens generally grows to a mantle length of 8–10 cm, and arm length of 30–40 cm. Adult weight is generally 100-150 grams, however occasionally animals up to 400 grams in weight have been observed. Like all octopuses, O. rubescens can change its color and texture, making its appearance highly variable. Color can vary from a deep brick red, to brown, to white, or mottled mixtures of the three. The octopus from the is the East Pacific Red Octopus.

Trivia

 * In Animal Island, it is possible for an islander to catch an octopus if given a fishing rod, predating the debut of the Octopus in.