Octopus marmoratus, Gunther & Dallas & Carruthers & Francis, 1885

Gunther, Albert C. L. G., Dallas, William S., Carruthers, William & Francis, William, 1885, The Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Including Zoology, Botany, and Geology, Reptiles and Batrachians from Brazil, LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.; SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.; KENT AND CO.,; WHITT AKER AND CO.: BAILLIERE, PARIS: MACLACHLAN AND STEWART, EDINBURGH: HODGES, FOSTER, AND CO., DUBLIN: AND ASHER, BERLIN: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, pp. 1-96 : 227-228

Octopus marmoratus , n. sp.

The Body is round, not depressed, and a little longer than wide. The mantle-opening extends somewhat less than halfway round the body, terminating nearer to the siphon than to the eye and considerably behind the latter. The siphon is small and acutely conical, and extends about one third the distance to the umbrella-margin.

The Head is narrow and the eyes arc prominent where they have not suffered from compression.

The Arms are subequal, eight times as long as the body; they are very long and slender, the last property being more marked in the females than in the male; they taper more rapidly at first than near the extremities, which are much attenuated. The umbrella is very wide, especially in the male, where it extends almost one third up the arms; in the females its extent is only one sixth. The suckers are rather large and closely set; in the male a few suckers opposite the umbrella-margin are slightly, but not markedly, larger than the others. The hectocotylus is small and has about ten small transverse ridges.

The Surface appears to have been smooth, except for a few short ridges placed longitudinally on the back and sides; but the skin is shrivelled by the action of the spirit, so that it is difficult to be certain. A conical cirrus is situated above and slightly behind each eye; but in some cases this has been destroyed.

The Colour is a stone-grey, with dark pigment disposed in veins like those of marble on the dorsal surface of the body, head, and umbrella; the male is much darker, so that the marbling is almost concealed. Traces of an oval spot are seen in front of and below the eye on both sides of one female specimen and on one side of the other; but this spot is concealed by the dark colouring in the male, even if it exist.

Hab. On the reefs, Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. Three specimens, 1 ♂, 2 ♀.