octoling
Species of humanoid cephalopods in the Splatoon series that can transform into Octopus and back to their humanoid form at will.
They are a type of Octarian, and are initially introduced as the main antagonist species of Splatoon 1. Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion had the first appearance of them as a protagonist in the form of Agent 8. In Splatoon 2, they are unlockable playable main characters for the multiplayer modes and Salmon Run upon beating Octo Expansion. Splatoon 3 lets you be one from the start. Thus Splatoon 3's base game story mode protagonist, Agent 3 (Splatoon 3), can be either an Inkling or an Octoling.
The player can choose from an Octoling Boy or an Octoling Girl.
Use this species tag for any of the following characters, as long as they aren't depicted as an alternate species (e.g. a full-on human / humanization):
Characters
- Octoling player character
- Idols
- Squidbeak Splatoon (story mode cast)
- Agent 8, player character for both Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion and Splatoon 3: Side Order.
- New Agent 3, player character for Splatoon 3's hero mode. Can also be an Inkling.
- Other Octolings (WIP)
Identifying Octolings (as opposed to Inklings)
Octolings have a few key traits that Inklings don't:
- rounded ears as opposed to Inklings' pointy ears
- no black line that connects their eyes like Inklings
- their suction cups appear on the outside of their tentacle hair (e.g. post #7028055)
- sometimes depicted with cephalopod eyes (e.g. post #7464499 - the figure-8 shaped horizontal pupils)
- (the named Octolings, particularly the Idols, are nearly always depicted with them)
- unique hairstyles, see this list of them (Splatoon wiki)
- mohawk, afro and short ponytail are some examples that are used for Octolings as opposed to Inklings.
post #7190600 is a good comparison of these traits, with an Inkling on the left and an Octoling on the right.
Typical tags common to both Inklings and Octolings include tentacle hair and thick eyebrows.