All Cephalopods, All the Time.

somethingroyal: New animal obsession: Octopus

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:28:47 -0500

New animal obsession: Octopus

Inside the mind of the clever octopus

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:45:41 -0400

The octopus is one of the more intelligent creatures on Earth. I mean not like people, but they’re pretty damn smart for being boneless underwater lumps of flesh. Sy Montgomery of Orion Magazine got a chance to meet an octopus close up, and he was amazed at the creature’s apparent intellect and emotional response.

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cephalopodday: New web badge for promoting ICAD...

Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:08:40 -0400

cephalopodday:

New web badge for promoting ICAD 2011.

Cephalopod Awareness Day by Jason Robertshaw / lescates is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Based on a work at flickr.com/photos/lecates/2399852924/. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at cephalopodday.org/contact.

Humbolt squid invasion!

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:22:41 -0400

Humbolt squid invasion!

zoo-logic: Cuttlefish (Sepiida) are not only incredible masters of colour change, they also use...

Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:44:37 -0400

zoo-logic:

Cuttlefish (Sepiida) are not only incredible masters of colour change, they also use visual cues to determine how best to posture themselves for camouflage that is positively seamless. Check out these images from the lab as well as the natural environment. Awesome.

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Ref: Barbosa et al. (2011) Cuttlefish use visual cues to determine arm postures for camouflage. Proceedings of the Royal Society B Published online before print May 11 2011 [link]

iheartchaos: First Tattoo, figured I’d get some input!

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 02:21:52 -0400

iheartchaos:

First Tattoo, figured I’d get some input!

animalworld: PROMACHOTEUHID SQUID has creepy...

Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:03:11 -0400

animalworld:

PROMACHOTEUHID SQUID has creepy “teeth”
Promachoteuthis sulcus
©Richard E. Young (from tolweb.org)

Promachoteuthis sulcus is known from a single specimen collected in the south Atlantic at a depth of 1759-2000 meters. The holotype* is an immature female with a mantle length of 25mm. Its diagnostic characteristics include tentacles that are thicker at their base than the arms, and arm suckers that are bigger than the suckers on the tentacle clubs. However, the thing that got this obscure little squid noticed was this photo of its mouth, showing what seem to be disturbingly human-like teeth.

P. sulcus is known from a single specimen caught by the German research vessel R/V Walther Herwig in an open net off Tristan Da Cunha, southern Atlantic Ocean, at a depth of 1750–2000 m.

Souce: http://www.indiesquidkid.com/tag/ten-sensational-squids/

Other posts:

Jeweled Squid

Squidworm

Striped Pyjama Squid

oceansoftheworld: (source of photo here) The firefly squid...

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:33:49 -0400

oceansoftheworld:

(source of photo here)

The firefly squid (Watasenia scintillans) (also known as sparkling enope squid) is a small member of the squid family, growing to a length of only 3”. It is found at depths of 600-1200’ in the Western Pacific ocean. What makes this squid so beautiful and amazing is that it is bio-luminescent; equipped with special light-producing organs called photophores. These photophores are found on many parts of the squid’s body and emit a deep blue light. The lights can be flashed in unison or alternated in an endless number of patterns. These light shows are thought to serve several functions. They can be used to communicate with potential mates or rivals. They may also be used to disguise the squid’s shape and confuse predators, allowing it to escape.

(Source)

shainagrace: ohscience: Reasons why octopuses in general are...

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:16:14 -0400

shainagrace:

ohscience:

Reasons why octopuses in general are really weird:

some have three hearts

and venomous saliva

and a hidden parrot-like beak

they can change the color and texture of their skin with incredible ease and speed (they are much better at it than chameleons)

they have “intelligent arms” that don’t seem to need instructions from the brain to perform certain actions

(this is a giant pacific octopus.)

I love octopuses

animalworld: JEWELED SQUID (Histioteuthis bonellii) - ...

Thu, 26 May 2011 12:33:35 -0400

animalworld:

JEWELED SQUID (Histioteuthis bonellii) - © JLambus

The jewelled squid, Histioteuthis bonellii, swims above the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at depths from 500m to 2,000m.

Fact Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/24316.php?from=165731

Other photos you may enjoy:

Anglerfish

Glass Squid

Fangtooth Fish

animalworld: BLANKET OCTOPUS ...

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:21:30 -0400

animalworld:

BLANKET OCTOPUS ©www.oversodoinverso.com

Tremoctopus is a genus of pelagic cephalopods, containing four species that occupy surface to mid-waters in subtropical and tropical oceans. They are commonly known as blanket octopuses, in reference to the long transparent webs that connect the dorsal and dorsolateral arms of the adult females. The other arms are much shorter and lack webbing.

These species exhibit an extreme degree of sexual dimorphism. Females may grow to over 2 metres in length whereas the tiny males are at most a few centimeters long. The males have a specially modified third right arm which stores sperm, known as a hectocotylus. During mating, this arm detaches itself and crawls into the mantle of the female to fertilize her eggs. The male dies shortly after mating. The females carry over 100,000 tiny eggs that are attached to a sausage-shaped calcareous secretion held at the base of the dorsal arms and carried by the female until hatching.

These species have evolved an unusual defense mechanism: blanket octopuses are immune to the poisonous Portuguese man o’ war, whose tentacles the male and immature females rip off and use for defensive purposes. Also, unlike many other octopuses, the blanket octopus does not use ink to intimidate potential predators. When threatened, the female unfurls her large net-like membranes that spread out and billow in the water, greatly increasing her apparent size.

Fact Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanket_octopus

Other photos you may enjoy:

Common Octopus (with 96 arms)

Octopus Camouflage

Blue-Ringed Octopus

Godspeed, Bobtail Squid

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:08:53 -0400

Godspeed, Bobtail Squid:

cephalopodappreciation:

For the sake of science, the bobtail baby squid will be launched into outer space and become the first cephalopod in outer space.

animalworld: COCONUT OCTOPUS (Amphioctopus marginatus) The...

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:36:16 -0400

animalworld:

COCONUT OCTOPUS (Amphioctopus marginatus)

The Coconut Octopus lives in the sandy shallows where there is a decided lack of protection. It has solved this problem by gathering coconut shells that have been cast off by humans, and in doing so, has become one of the only Octopus ever observed to gather objects together and using them to create a shelter for itself. What makes it unique is that in the gathering, the octopus is not using the shell like a hermit crab to protect itself but for future use.

Fact Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphioctopus_marginatus

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rhamphotheca:

Coconut Octopus (Octopus marginatus)

Thank you for existing.
My love of cephalopods is being fed! <3

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:01:33 -0400

I’m glad someone else appreciates cephalopods as much as I do.

Dosidicus gigas also known as the humboldt squid and diablo rojo...

Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:52:39 -0500

Dosidicus gigas also known as the humboldt squid and diablo rojo (red devil). Larger specimens can grow to around 6 feet and can be fairly dangerous. They are equppied with powerful beaks and hooks on their suction cups. These squid have been known to go into cannabalistic feeding frenzies when other squid become caught on a line. More incredible still there are reports of fishermen being attacked and dragged down by these squid. This seems to only happen during feeding frenzies and they are normally quite harmless.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/07/0718_030718_jumbosquid.html

http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=249

Metasepia pfefferi, commonly called the flamboyant cuttlefish,...

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:58:58 -0500

Metasepia pfefferi, commonly called the flamboyant cuttlefish, is known for its unusual method of movement and its outrageous colorations. The flamboyant cuttlefish “ambles” along the seafloor using its arms and the fins on its mantle looking for food. Usually camouflaged when disturbed it takes on the beautiful bright colorations that are generally associated with this species. This serves as a warning, because the flamboyant cuttlefish is toxic.

for more http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/Metasepiapfefferi.php

The vampire squid isn’t actually a squid at all. They are...

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 20:58:56 -0500

The vampire squid isn’t actually a squid at all. They are actually part of the order Vampyromorphida and are the only known surviving species of this order. The vampire squid has eight arms that are webbed together with suction cups only on the outer half. The inner half is covered in fleshy spines called cirri. Vampire squids also have two long thin velar filaments which they can use as feelers or keep tucked away in a pouch. These filaments are much like the ninth and tenth tentacles on the squid but are more likely appendages that octopus lost millions of years ago.

There is alot to learn about this interesting creature so for more information visit http://www.realmonstrosities.com/2010/10/vampire-squid.html

The chambered nautilus. The nautilus is the only cephalopod to...

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 11:54:11 -0500

The chambered nautilus. The nautilus is the only cephalopod to have an exterior shell (Both squids and cuttlefish have an anterior structure, the pen in the squid, and the cuttlebone in the cuttlefish). A bisected chambered nautilus shell has the same proportions as the golden ratio (for any math nerds out there who know what that is).

For a poem about the chambered nautilus and more information visit http://www.legallanguage.com/resources/poems/chamberednautilus/ and http://www.seasky.org/deep-sea/chambered-nautilus.html

"Imagine an electronic page for each species of organism on Earth..." - Edward O. Wilson

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:30:00 -0500

"Imagine an electronic page for each species of organism on Earth..." - Edward O. Wilson

This is sepia officinalis or the common cuttlefish. Cuttlefish...

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:31:15 -0500

This is sepia officinalis or the common cuttlefish. Cuttlefish have the remarkable ability to change their color like many cephalopods. cuttlefish use this ability for both camouflage and communication. The cromatophors (pigments cells in the skin that are used to change color) are so advanced that many cuttlefish can make their skin appear textured.

for more information http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=540

All Cephalopods, All the Time.

somethingroyal: New animal obsession: Octopus

Inside the mind of the clever octopus

cephalopodday: New web badge for promoting ICAD...

Humbolt squid invasion!

zoo-logic: Cuttlefish (Sepiida) are not only incredible masters of colour change, they also use...

iheartchaos: First Tattoo, figured I’d get some input!

animalworld: PROMACHOTEUHID SQUID has creepy...

oceansoftheworld: (source of photo here) The firefly squid...

shainagrace: ohscience: Reasons why octopuses in general are...

animalworld: JEWELED SQUID (Histioteuthis bonellii) - ...

animalworld: BLANKET OCTOPUS ...

Godspeed, Bobtail Squid

animalworld: COCONUT OCTOPUS (Amphioctopus marginatus) The...

Thank you for existing. My love of cephalopods is being fed! <3

Dosidicus gigas also known as the humboldt squid and diablo rojo...

Metasepia pfefferi, commonly called the flamboyant cuttlefish,...

The vampire squid isn’t actually a squid at all. They are...

The chambered nautilus. The nautilus is the only cephalopod to...

"Imagine an electronic page for each species of organism on Earth..." - Edward O. Wilson

This is sepia officinalis or the common cuttlefish. Cuttlefish...

Thank you for existing.
My love of cephalopods is being fed! <3