Page 78 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

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skills There are 300 species of octopus lives. When hatchlings burst from their

eggs, they head for the surface; octopus
and they are all generalist feeders.
Crustaceans, molluscs and fish are all on
the octopus hit list. They are quite picky mothers don’t give their young any care
whatsoever, so the babies are on their
Octopuses are stealthy eaters, though, and give prey a quick own. The little ones gobble microscopic
masters of disguise taste with their suckers. They pass up the plankton floating in the water. Plankton
chance to eat if they don’t like the flavour, consists of small plant matter and a huge
even if they’re really hungry. range of tiny animals. When the octopus
Octopuses are known to kill more than gets big enough, it moves to the ocean
Octopuses have great physical strength, and they can eat – it’s not unusual to see an floor and comes into contact with a new
eight arms with which to fight. They utilise octopus den littered with uneaten meat. world of prey.
their camouflage abilities and quick thinking Their diets also change throughout their
to snatch prey. Most species live near the
GIANT PACIFIC
surface where it’s shallow enough for light OCTOPUS
The giant pacific octopus is big enough
to penetrate the water, but a few live in the to kill and eat small sharks Enteroctopus dofleini
abyssal deep, hunting in total darkness. These Lifespan 3-5 years
Adult weight 50kg (110lbs)
octopuses differ slightly from their relatives Conservation status
at the surface – deep dwellers don’t produce
ink to bamboozle predators because it’s dark
enough down there already. LEAST CONCERN
The sea and its shores are littered with
crevices for octopuses to lurk in, from rocky
beaches to vast reefs. Marine creatures that
get too close to the hidden predator are in
danger of being grabbed. Octopuses have
a sharp beak hidden between their arms
that delivers a bite force of 100 pounds per
square inch; it can crunch through shells of
crabs and clams and slice through flesh like
butter. Their saliva also contains venom that
incapacitates prey, though most octopus
bites would not be deadly to humans.
© Thinkstock

GREATER BLUE-
RINGED OCTOPUS
Hapalochlaena lunulata
Lifespan 2 years
Adult weight 80g (2.8oz) Mimic octopuses pretend MIMIC OCTOPUS
Conservation status to be dangerous animals Thaumoctopus mimicus
like lionfish and sea snakes Lifespan 9 years
to deter predators Adult weight Unknown
Conservation status
LEAST CONCERN

LEAST CONCERN

The beautiful blue-
ringed octopus
© Thinkstock matter of minutes © Thinkstock
has venom so
potent that it can
kill a human in a

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