Octopus australis

Octopus australis is a shallow-water octopus native to southern Australia and New Zealand. It is associated with coastal benthic habitats rather than the deep open ocean.

No, it is recognized as a shallow-water southern benthic species. Benthic means it lives on or near the seafloor, including coastal marine environments.

It is treated as a distinct species within the coastal octopus fauna of Australia and New Zealand. Its range places it among the southern temperate octopuses rather than tropical reef species.

Octopus australis is benthic, meaning it spends its life associated with the seabed. A pelagic octopus would live in the water column, so the two terms describe different habitats.