Largest genus of octopus

The largest genus of octopuses is Octopus, which contains over 100 species (opinions vary among octopus researchers concerning the exact number), which is more than a third of the total number of octopus species currently recognized by science. Its species are predominantly benthic, and include Octopus vulgaris, the common octopus, which is the world's most studied octopus species and has a cosmopolitan range.

The term "octopus" is of Greek origin and translates as "eight-footed". As it is derived from Greek, its correct plural is "octopuses" (or even "octopodes"), but not "octopi" (even though this is often mistakenly used), because this latter plural would only be correct if "octopus" were a Latin term.