aculeatus occupy ‘Adjacent’ (GA) dens and copulate frequently in mate-guarding situations over successive days. The mating system of Abdopus aculeatus incorporates sneaker matings, mate guarding, sex-specific body patterns, frequent copulations, and male–male competitionįor mates, making it more similar to that of aggregating decapod cephalopods than any previously known octopus social system. Special attention to marine conservation efforts in the Philippines is justified because of the identification of it as an epicenter of biodiversity and evolution. The Philippine center of diversity is consistent with hypotheses that this area experienced numerous vicariant and island integration events and these hypotheses warrant further testing. Our study indicates, however, that there is a higher concentration of species per unit area in the Philippines than anywhere in Indonesia, including Wallacea. Processes suggested by these three hypotheses contribute to the diversity in this region and are also a likely explanation for the secondary center of diversity. Specific predictions based on area of overlap, area of accumulation, and area of refuge hypotheses suggest that present day eastern Indonesia, or Wallacea, should be the center of marine biodiversity. This pattern is repeated in diverse habitat and higher taxa classes, most rigorously for marine shore fishes, supporting geohistorical hypotheses as the most general unifying explanations. Analysis of distribution data for 2983 species reveals a pattern of richness on a finer scale and identifies a peak of marine biodiversity in the central Philippine Islands and a secondary peak between peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Multiple datasets show global maxima of marine biodiversity in the Indo–Malay–Philippines archipelago (IMPA). Thus, for the time being, successfulĪquarium display programs will likely involve targeted collecting trips. Proven to be an unreliable source for this species. Is a small-egged species with tiny paralarvae, complicating the development ofĪquarium-based captive breeding programs. (longevity up to 375 days post-collection, average of 195 days), exhibited typicalīehaviors observed in the wild, such as constructing dens and hiding in containers,Īnd proved to be exceptionally popular with museum guests. In aquaria, coconut octopuses lived their presumed natural lifespans At Steinhart Aquarium, we successfully displayed A. Via SCUBA, (2) temporary staging in the field and (3) international air-cargo Techniques that support 100% survival of specimens during 3 critical stages: (1) collection On two occasions (May 2011 and November 2012) and transported a total ofġ8 coconut octopuses to Steinhart Aquarium for research and display.We developed Scientific collaboration in the Philippines, we collected 25 individuals of A. As part of the California Academy of Sciences’ longterm Tropical, day-active species of octopus that is well suited for aquarium display.ĭespite this, they are never seen in the marine aquarium hobby and have never beenĭisplayed in public aquariums. The coconut octopus, Amphioctopus marginatus (Taki, 1964), is a small, charismatic,

Coconut octopus