Hammer Octopus (Octopus australis)

Images taken at Manly Cove, NSW, Australia

An endemic species to Australia located on the Eastern coast from Southern Queensland down to Victoria and Tasmania.

They are found in shallow waters on sandy seabeds often with seagrass. They bury themselves in the sand or make use of human rubbish like bottles for artificial shelter during the day, coming out at night to feed on crustaceans and fish.

They are typically cream in colour, with a skin ridge surrounding the body. The arms are long with slender tips. Its name is derived from a large, club-like, modified arm tip found in mature males which is used in the reproduction process.