MCZ Special Collections 2990

Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910)

Date Collected:

1880-01-01/1883-12-31

[no higher geography data] | [no specific locality data]

occurrenceID: https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:SC:2990 JSON-LD

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Media type: image; Special Collections 2990

(Media Record) (Related) (Full)

Shows Cataloged Item: MCZ:SC:2990 Enteroctopus dofleini Additional Material

Current Identification
Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910) linked data icon
Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Coleoidea Octopodiformes Octopoda Octopodidae
Determiner: Adam J. BaldingerORCID iD icon
Nature of ID: expert ID
Remarks: No taxonomic identification found on model or in publication describing the model.
Previous Identifications
Octopus punctatus Gabb, 1862 linked data icon
Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Coleoidea Octopodiformes Octopoda Octopodidae
Determiner: James H. Emerton on 1884-12-31
Nature of ID: expert ID
Remarks: ID found in "About the Exhibits" booklet
Polypus hongkongensis Hoyle, 1885 linked data icon
Animalia Mollusca Cephalopoda Coleoidea Octopodiformes Octopoda Incirrata Octopodoidea Octopodidae
Determiner: [no agent data] on 1883-12-31
Nature of ID: expert ID
Remarks: ID found in "About the Exhibits" booklet, as well as approximate date. "ID by" is ascribed to "Harvard scientists."

Emerton 1883, page 352, Additional Material of Octopus punctatus Gabb, 1862 This article discusses fabrication of Yale's model of the same type, presumably using the same techniques and maybe even molds as found in the MCZ's model.
Hall and Hall 1975, page 46, Other Useful Citation of Enteroctopus dofleini (Wülker, 1910) pages 46-48
Ellis 1997, page 34, Other Useful Citation of [no taxonomy] doi: 10.1111/j.2151-6952.1997.tb01120.x linked data icon
Media type: text; Emerton 1883 Description:

(Media Record) (Related) (File)

Shows Publication: Emerton 1883 Description: "Model of the Giant Octopus of the West Coast of America" by J.H. Emerton

Media type: text; Hall and Hall 1975 Description: Link goes to full page-turnable scan representation of this publication.;

(Media Record) (Related) (File)

Shows Publication: Hall and Hall 1975 Description: Link goes to full page-turnable scan representation of this publication.

  • None

Part Condition Disposition Count
model elements (separated from model) good on loan 4 History (7)
Remarks: Two tentacle tips separated from model at some unknown point prior to August 2019. Stored loose on top of cabinet in HMNH classroom. Retrieved by Jon Woodward, 2019-08-06. --JW | Two additional longer tentacle segments broken loose from model at some point between 2019-08 and 2021-10-29. Retrieved from classroom. --JW, 2021-12-09 | Both sets of parts transferred to the care of Tristan Rocher of HMNH Exhibits in advance of conservation of the whole (expected Dec 2022 - Jan 2023). JW, 2022-12-06. | An additional tentacle tip (with wooden core) was knocked off the model by the end of an eight foot table during the cleanup of a member event in HMNH, 2022-12-08. Pieces transferred to Tristan Rocher for safekeeping ahead of restoration/relocation to NWB.--JW | All model elements rejoined with main model during reconstruction process by Terry Chase, model-maker, 2023-01-12. --JW
model: individual (free-standing) unknown on loan 1 History (4)
Remarks: Suspended from HMNH classroom ceiling. | As of 2023-01-12, suspended above main stairwell in Northwest Building. --JW

  • None

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  • Papier-mache model of a large octopus, stored in the HMNH classroom until 2023. Currently on long-term loan to NWB. This artifact is a model, not a biological specimen.

  • None

  • Continent:
  • [no higher geography data]
  • Sovereign Nation:
  • [no sovereign nation data]
Specimens with same Higher Geography
Specimens from the same Locality
Specimens from the same Collecting Event
  • Specific Locality:
  • [no specific locality data]
  • Verbatim Locality:
  • [no verbatim locality data]
  • Collecting Source:
  • unknown
  • Began Date / Ended Date:
  • 1880-01-01 / 1883-12-31
  • Verbatim Date:
  • [no verbatim date data]
  • Collecting Event Remarks:
  • Date range determined from "The Models of Architeuthis," published by Richard Ellis in Curator (1997). See citations.
  • Collector:
  • [no agent data]

  • None

  • [Masked]

  • None
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