Octopus minor

Octopus minor, also known as the long arm octopus or the Korean common octopus, is a small-bodied octopus species distributed along the benthic coastal waters bordering China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula. It lives at depths ranging from 0 to 200 metres (0 to 660 feet; 0 to 110 fathoms). O. minor is commonly found in the mudflats of sub-tidal zones where it is exposed to significant environmental variation. It is grouped within the class Cephalopoda along with squids and cuttlefish.

O. minor carries cultural and economic value in the countries in which it is found. It is important commercially to the fishing communities in Korea, where it contributes to the $35 million octopus industry. It is a Korean seafood, commonly referred to as nakji (낙지). The octopus is served both cooked and raw, and is often a snack during sporting events.

There have been multiple findings concerning the physiological makeup of O. minor. It has been shown to host a dangerous parasite, while also demonstrating the ability to adapt its morphology to a wide range of environmental conditions. These characteristics have increased interest in the species and its genome has been mapped.