Qazi H.1*, Ali Q.M.1, Ahmed Q.1, Marin I.N.2 2026. First report on rearing of Octopus cf. vulgaris type III (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae) from Pakistan (northern Arabian Sea) under laboratory conditions // Invert. Zool. Vol.23. No.3: 411–422 [in English].
1 The Marine Reference Collection and Resource Centre, University of Karachi, 75270, Pakistan.
2 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of RAS, Moscow 119071 Russia.
* сorresponding author: Hafsanaimatullah@gmail.com
Hafsa Qazi Hafsanaimatullah@gmail.com ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1952-8654
Qadeer Mohammad Ali qmali@uok.edu.pk ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0499-0801
Quratulan Ahmed quratulanahmed_ku@yahoo.com ORCID https://orcid.org/000-0002-0283-3837
Ivan Marin coralliodecapoda@mail.ru ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0552-8456
doi: 10.15298/invertzool.23.3.04
ABSTRACT. Present studies provide the first detailed description of the rearing of the common Octopus, Octopus cf. vulgaris type III (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae), from Pakistan (Northern Arabian Sea), under laboratory conditions. This data on paralarval development and survival in captivity is essential for understanding sustainable octopus aquaculture practices. The total number of eggs recorded in the studied females was estimated at ~4230 eggs, in 53 strings and each string containing 70±64 eggs. The average egg size was measured as 1.3 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width. Twenty stages were recorded during the study, with hatching occurring from 17–22 (528 h) days after spawning at the temperature about 28–31 °C. The female octopus died after 42 days, when all the young had hatched. This research will help us better understand the best practices for rearing and raising octopuses, as well as identify any potential bottlenecks, which will be valuable in designing proposal for the development of aquaculture potential. The results could serve as a starting point for the development of octopus farming in Pakistan and open up new opportunities for research and innovation within the country.
KEY WORDS: embryonic development, Octopus vulgaris, eggs stages, hatching, paralarvae.