Octopus chierchiae

Also known as the pygmy zebra octopus, or the Lesser Pacific Striped Octopus, Octopus chierchiae is ideally suited for laboratory research due to its small size, short time to maturity, and ability to lay multiple egg clutches (iteroparity).  Like most octopus species, O. chierchiae is asocial. However, perhaps because of the densely populated conditions of its native intertidal habitat,  if reared communally in a laboratory setting, O. chierchiae is socially tolerant. Interestingly, O. chierchiae's closely related sister species, the Larger Pacific Striped Octopus (scientific name pending), is the only known social species of octopus, affording the Dölen lab a unique opportunity to take a comparative approach towards understanding the evolution of sociality.