Page 205 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

COMMON OCTOPUS 205

Comparisons

Although cephalopods are usually associated with warm waters, octopi
are found in a wide range of ocean habitats. Common octopi are fairly
widespread throughout tropical and sub-tropical, coastal waters. Lesser
octopi, Eledone cirrhosa (also known as the curled octopus), make their
homes in the cooler waters around the North Sea and Atlantic
Ocean.These curious creatures are smaller than common octopi with
red-yellow mantles.

Lesser octopus Common octopus

‘walking’. New studies have even suggested that each arm noxious, black ink, and this temporarily blinds the pursuer
may have its own independent nervous system, so the and confuses its sense of taste and smell.
brain can delegate separate instructions to each arm, and But intelligence is the best weapon of the octopus – in
let them get on with the tasks. defence or attack.The common octopus is one of the
most widely studied species and it has been shown to be
Clever and cunning extremely intelligent. It has a good memory, superb
Out of the hundreds of thousands of eggs that female coordination and an ability to learn, solve puzzles and
octopi lay, few survive to adulthood. Fortunately, fully adapt its behaviour to new situations.
grown octopi are nowhere near as vulnerable as their tiny
offspring.These remarkable beasts spend much of their
time ‘holed up’ in holes.Their soft, flexible bodies allow Common octopus habitats
them to squeeze into and under the tightest spaces where
they make their dens. Some species even use discarded
bottles and jars! But, if they are caught out in the open by
a predator, they have several ingenious methods of getting
out of trouble.
Most cephalopods can change their colour to blend
with their surroundings.This doesn’t just confound
pursuers; it also helps them to creep up on prey.A
recently discovered species of brown octopus is such a
skilled mimic that it not only changes the colour and
texture of its skin but also contorts its body to imitate the
appearance of specific species.When confronted by a
damselfish, for instance, it’s been observed to take on the
appearance of that fish’s enemy, the sea snake. Common
octopi are such good camouflage experts that they’re
usually spotted only because of their habit of piling
‘defensive’ shells and stones outside their lairs. If
camouflage doesn’t work, the octopus then resorts to
chemical warfare. Its body can pump out clouds of

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.