A Monster of the Sea The Octopus p

A Monster of the Sea

The Octopus p The Colossal Octopus: Pen and wash drawing by malacologist Pierre Dénys de Montfort, 1801, from the descriptions of French sailors reportedly attacked by such a creature off the coast of Angola

The Octopus

The Octopus p p p There around 300 recognized octopus species, which is over one-third of the total number of known cephalopod species. Habitat: Octopuses divide into two types, the deep-sea finned octopuses and their finless, shallower water cousins. They inhabit many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. Octopuses are solitary animals who make their homes in rocks and coral or dig burrows. They scatter rocks and shells (or midden) around their dens to hide them. They leave the dens only to eat or reproduce.

The Octopus It is part of the Mollusk family. p Their lifespans vary among species but can be between six months and five years p It is an invertebrate, it has no skeleton other than a skull to protect its brain. p Octopuses have eight arms, two act as legs. p Each tentacle or arm are lined with two rows of suckers. p An Octopus can lose an arm and be able to re-grow it again. p

An Octopus’ Arm p Suckers can sense taste.

The Octopus p p p It also has a sharp beak and a toothed tongue called a radula, which it uses to pry open and drill into the shells of prey, like crabs and clams. Once it breaks into the shells, it may also inject a paralyzing poison into its prey. All octopuses are venomous, but only the small blue-ringed octopuses are known to be deadly to humans They have three hearts. Two pump blood through each of the two gills, while third pumps blood through the body

Reproducing p p In early spring, octopuses move closer to the shore to mate. Two months after mating, the female releases 100, 000 -500, 000 eggs. She spends her time cleaning the eggs, providing oxygen by squirting water, and fending off predators. Soon after the eggs hatch, both the male and female octopuses die. They only live 12 -18 months. Meanwhile, the hatchlings are carried by the currents, and they feed on plankton for 45 -60 days. Only one or two of the hatchlings will survive to adulthood.

Baby Octopus

Intelligence Studies have shown that octopuses learn easily, including learning by observation of another octopus. p They can solve problems, as when they remove a plug or unscrew a lid to get prey from a container p They are the first invertebrates to be seen using tools, such as using coconut shells to hide from potential predators and using rocks and jets of water in a way that could be classified as tool use. p

Intelligence p They have been found to play with a ‘toy’ and to have individual responses and individual temperaments.

Fleeing Danger p p When confronted with a potential threat, the octopus employs several defense tactics. Firstly it is able to contract pigment cells to change its color to match the background scenery. They also change the texture of their skin and their body posture to blend in seamlessly with their surroundings. The areas around the eyes, suckers, arms, and web may darken so the octopus appears more threatening. Their coloration also reflects their mood. While their color is usually brown, octopuses may turn white, which shows fear, or red, which demonstrates anger.

The Mimic Octopus p The amazing mimic octopuses are capable of changing their body shape to mimic other animals

The Mimic Octopus

Fleeing from Danger p Another defense tactic is flight. After releasing a cloud of purple-black ink to distract their predators (such as sharks, eels, and dolphins), the octopus propels itself by funneling water from its gills at the top of its mantle through its siphon, located at the bottom of the mantle. It can reach speeds as high as 25 mph, but cannot maintain this speed for long.

The Giant Octopus p The giant Pacific octopus grows bigger and lives longer than any other octopus species. The size record is held by a specimen that was 30 feet across and weighed more than 600 pounds. Averages are more like 16 feet and 110 lbs. Size relative to a 6 -ft man