Octopus americanus (common name is not available), previously thought to be Octopus vulgaris, has only recently been confirmed as the one on the continental shelf of Yucatan, extending from the northwest USA to the north of Argentina (Avendaño et al. 2020). Being so recent, the Mexican administration is not currently updated with this information on the stock, and most information still refers to the common octopus. 

Mexican four-eyed octopus and O. americanus occupy similar habitats and are of comparable size, causing the species to be difficult to discriminate by eye, which can lead to misidentification. Both species are prosecuted by the same multispecies fishery using baited lines on poles (on average, a proportion of 75% of four-eyed octopus and 25% of O. americanus) (DOF 2018)(DOF 2022). Nevertheless, relative abundances vary depending on depth and season and fishermen claim they can discriminate the species (Avendaño et al. 2022)(Avendaño et al. 2022).