Estimates of size for the large octopus Macroctopus maorum from measures of beaks in prey remains.

The article presents a study which evaluates the keratinous mandibles in prey remains of the Macroctopus maorum, the largest octopod in Australasia in order to estimate the size of the octopus. Ninety M. maorum were collected from the coastline of New Zealand in order to measure the ventral and dorsal mantle lengths, total length and body mass through their upper and lower beaks. Results show that equations including the transparent strip applied to beaks would decrease its body mass by c. 25%.