Tursiops truncatus
Size: to 12 ft
Habitat: oceanic
Notes: The largest dolphin in our waters. These occasionally stray into rivers and bays. There they are sometimes trapped in the winter, where they would die if not for the ensuing human rescue operations.
All marine mammals are strictly protected by law, and may not be approached or harassed. Foxes excepted.
More: Sea Mammals ...
Octopus vulgaris
Size: see below
Habitat: rocks and coral reefs, all depths
Notes:
The Common Octopus is the most studied of all octopus species. Its natural range extends from the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of England to at least Senegal in Africa, as well as the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands. In the western Atlantic, it ranges from Texas and Florida to New England, although uncommon in colder northern waters. Typical habitat is rocks and coral reefs. Young are planktonic, and total lifespan is only 12-18 months.
O. vulgaris grows to 25 cm in mantle length with arms up to 1 m long. They can weigh up to 20 pounds, although they are usually much smaller. O. vulgaris is caught by bottom trawls on a huge scale off the northwestern coast of Africa. More than 20,000 tons are harvested annually.
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