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The Lovable Octopus
There was a time when the octopus was
featured in movies as the denizen of the deep and feared by the men of the sea engaged in sponge,
pearl or treasure hunting.
Since that time we have found they are not the feared devils of the sea, but instead they can be
trained, are friendly, and are capable of learning to recognize objects by touch and shape. They
have well developed brains and nervous system. Possessing the ability to camouflage their body by
pigment changes, they may look and blend perfectly with their surroundings of sand, rocks, pebbles,
grass, or even shadows.
They are messy; consequently, it is easy to locate their lair by
looking for a pile of discarded body parts and shells lying at the entrance to their hideout;
usually a hole or rocky crevice. Their predators are many, including sharks, dolphins, and moray eels.
Escaping detection from most predators is accomplished by blending the color of their skin with the
surroundings or habitat at the time of detection. Also, if a predator is in pursuit, the octopus will
expel a black cloud of ink that will confuse its pursuer and prevent it from following its scent.
Are baby octopuses fully armed to escape?
| An observation
was made of a one-inch long baby expelling its ink when trying to hide from an artificial bait three times
its size. Yes, they are capable of changing color and blending with the surroundings, but there wasn't enough
ink squirted out to write the word:
"Help" |
Octopus love to feed on crabs, crayfish, and many forms of bivalves. In case you
forgot what a bivalve is; it's a mussel or clam and any other mollusk with a shell consisting of two covers
hinged together. An octopus has eight tentacles armed with sucker pads to help grip its prey. It can also
stun its victim with a secretion of nerve poison. Octopuses normally do not harm humans, although who knows
what a full grown ten-foot octopus, that weighs up to 55 pounds will do if you happen to be snorkeling in their
domain. The average females are mature at 2 pounds, males at 3½ pounds.
Late Breaking News!
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