Octopus Maya, a New Species from the Bay of Campeche, Mexico

A new species of occllated octopus, Octopus maya, is described from nine specimens collected in the Bay of Campeche. The species, known only from the bay, was taken during a survey of the octopus fisheries and is the second described species of ocellated octopus from the Atlantic Ocean. It is characterized by a large double-ringed ocellus, large eggs attaining a length of 17 mm, and, in the male, a minute ligula. It is compared with other ocellated species from the Pacific and Indian oceans. A key to the eight species of shallow water octopus of the tropical Western Atlantic Ocean is included.