Octopuses are molluscs in the class Cephalopoda, related to cuttlefish, nautiluses, squid, and, more distantly, snails, clams, and slugs. They evolved intelligence independently of mammals, which is one reason why they are so intriguing. I became fascinated with octopuses' intelligence, camouflage, and creativity after seeing the beautiful documentary My Octopus Teacher.
This data visualization examines octopus sightings since 2000. Each species is shown in a unique color, and each dot represents a documented octopus observation in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Click on a dot to see the species name, and use the slider below to explore when and where each species has been seen.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility. GBIF.org (20 January 2025) GBIF Occurrence Download https://doi.org/10.15468/dl.v9ctjg