Common Octopus

Photo: javi-calvo · CC BY-NC

The nutrient-rich Galician upwelling system supports exceptionally large common octopus, and the Cíes Islands' rocky reef is prime territory — dens are visible at almost every dive site. Octopus are central to the local economy as well as the ecosystem, which gives them cultural significance alongside their ecological role as keystone predators of crabs and bivalves.