Part I Introduction1. Origin and diversification of octopuses2. Global biodiversity and biogeography of coastal octopusesPart II Species account3. Octopus bimaculatus, California two-spotted octopus4. Octopus bimaculoides, Lesser two-spotted octopus5. Octopus cyanea, day octopus6. Octopus insularis, stout reef octopus7. Octopus maya, the Mayan octopus8. Octopus mimus, the Changos' octopus9. 'Octopus' minor, long-armed octopus10. 'Octopus' tehuelchus, small Patagonian octopus11. Octopus tetricus, gloomy octopus12. Octopus djinda, the western rock octopus13. Octopus vulgaris, the common octopus14. Abdopus aculeatus, the prickly octopus15. Amphioctopus aegina, the sandbird octopus16. Amphioctopus fangsiao, the two-gold-ring octopus17. Hapalochlaena lunulata, greater blue-ringed octopus18. 'Octopus' parvus, bean octopus19. Eledone cirrhosa, horned octopus20. Graneledone pacifica pacific warty octopus21. Enteroctopus dofleini, giant Pacific octopus22. Enteroctopus megalocyathus, Patagonian red octopusPart III Conclusions23. Past, present, and future trends in octopus research