whiparm octopus

Octopus variabilis, commonly known as the whiparm octopus, is a benthic species found in the northwest Pacific Ocean, specifically in the East China Sea and near Korea. O. variabilis inhabits areas of shallow muddy waters, particularly during breeding periods. This species is a member of the Octopodidae family, which consists of the most well-known octopus species.
This species is of economic importance to the coastal areas of China considering its role in stabilizing local fishery communities. In addition to Amphioctopus fangsiao, another key fishery resource to Korea and China, O. variabilis stands as one of the main species of cephalopod communities in East China. In many Asian countries, including South Korea, this small octopus is one of the most popular seafoods considering its low fat content along with its high proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Considering their habits of filter-feeding along with inhabiting tidal flat sediments, these individuals tend to host a variety of microbiota. As a result, they have been noted to cause food-borne illnesses when consumed raw.