Octopus

Photo: Mikhail V. Chemeris · CC BY-NC

Common octopuses are abundant in the rocky rubble margins where posidonia meets bare substrate, building dens recognisable by the shells and stones piled at their entrances. They are active hunters of crabs and bivalves, and Portofino's no-take zone has produced individuals of impressive size. Patient divers can observe complex colour-change behaviour and remarkable problem-solving as they navigate the reef.