Common in the Mediterranean, the octopus, Octopus vulgaris, illustrates this year's Europa stamp, whose theme is focused on underwater fauna and flora. The octopus mainly lives at depths between 1 and 25 meters, and up to 100 meters in winter, among rocks or in coral reefs, but also in seagrass meadows or sandy bottoms, where it hides by covering itself with stones. The Mediterranean octopus has cognitive abilities comparable to those of vertebrates. Camouflage, vision, innovation, deception, learning, memory, are facets of its intelligence.
(In order to better preserve the species, especially during the breeding periods from June to September, its capture is prohibited in certain areas of the Mediterranean.)
