This octopus was climbing out of the pool as I walked by-almost completely out of the water. Red at first then changed color as it retreated back into the pool. I didn't notice if it had spots before it hid under a ledge. A little larger than most Two-Spotted Octopi, Octopus bimaculoides, that I've seen in the past.
Pretty sure this is an EPR Octopus working through identity issues ("See look, two spots! I should have been born a two-spotted octopus."). Only problem is they're in the wrong location. Juvenile, found in empty red abalone shell.
This guy was not happy with me. Sorry octopus!
Found in tide pools at Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
Small one, only about 6" across.
a gull pulled this out of the reef then dropped it when it flew off,,,
The East Pacific red octopus (Octopus rubescens) is the most commonly occurring shallow-water octopus on much of the North American West Coast, and a ubiquitous benthic predator in these habitats. Its range extends from the southern Gulf of California at least to the Gulf of Alaska, but may also occur in the western Pacific Ocean. O. rubescens occurs intertidally to a depth of 300 m.