The Hammer Octopus (Octopus australis) belongs to the octopus family Octopodidae. It can be found along the east coast of Australia from southern Queensland (around Moreton Bay) down to Eden in southern New South Wales. It can be found living in sandy areas and in amongst seagrass meadows of coastal estuaries and bays. It is primarily found in shallower waters but it has also been recorded in depths up to 100 metres.
The Hammer Octopus is generally a sandy/dusky cream colour and is known to bury itself in the sand during the day and then coming out at night to search for prey. The Hammer Octopus name arises from the large, club-like modified arm tip that is found in the males. The primary function of the hammer structure is to pass sperm packets to the female. This species has an approximate arm span of about 40cm.
