Ovoid body is a dull reddish-brown on upper surface, lower surface lighter in color. Eight arms, each arm usually four times body length. Alaska to Baja, Mexico .
Females lay eggs in spring and summer.
Thousands of egg capsules are laid in clumps. Females guard their egg and carefully clean them during the 6-8 weeks required for development. Upon hatching, the young pass through a short planktonic stage, undergo metamorphosis in surface waters before settling, as juveniles, in the kelp bed. Octopus prey is killed like a spider kills its prey. Toxic secretions of the posterior salivary gland are injected into prey.