''Ameloctopus litoralis'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
octopus
An octopus ( : octopuses or octopodes, see below for variants) is a soft-bodied, eight- limbed mollusc of the order Octopoda (, ). The order consists of some 300 species and is grouped within the class Cephalopoda with squids, cuttle ...
in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Octopodidae
The Octopodidae comprise the family containing the majority of known octopus species.
Genera
The World Register of Marine Species lists these genera:
*'' Abdopus'' Norman & Finn, 2001
*'' Ameloctopus'' Norman, 1992
*'' Amphioctopus'' P. Fischer, ...
. It belongs to the
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
genus ''Ameloctopus''. It is found in shallow waters in tropical Australia and lacks an
ink sack. ''Ameloctopus litoralis'' lays large
eggs
Humans and human ancestors have scavenged and eaten animal eggs for millions of years. Humans in Southeast Asia had domesticated chickens and harvested their eggs for food by 1,500 BCE. The most widely consumed eggs are those of fowl, especial ...
compared to other octopuses.
Invertebrate Taxonomy 6(3) 567 - 582
/ref>
References
* Norman, M. D. (1992). ''Ameloctopus litoralis'' gen. et sp. nov. (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), a new shallow-water octopus from tropical Australian waters. Invertebrate Taxonomy, 6 . pp. 567–582.
Octopodidae
Monotypic mollusc genera
{{Octopus-stub