Solving the identity of the common shallow-water octopus of the Colombian Caribbean based on the analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequence data

The specific identity of the common octopus fished along the Colombian Caribbean was studied based on 58 specimens collected from artisanal fishing in five localities (Providencia, San Andres, Santa Marta, Cartagena and Isla Fuerte). A molecular systematic analysis of the mitochondrial genes 16S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III was carried out, along with a reanalysis of data for the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. These analyses revealed that the common shallow-water octopus of the Colombian Caribbean is Octopus insularis. The trees generated for the three genes and the genetic distances for each of the genes (0-0.3%) confirmed the specimens collected in this study as belonging to a single clade and the species as O. insularis. Our results confirm that the octopus described recently as O. tayrona is in fact O. insularis and this extends the known distribution of the latter species to the southwestern Caribbean (i.e. Colombian coast). We discuss our findings in the context of the species misidentification of the O. vulgaris species complex.