Loading ...Don’t you love that word? Say it with me: seph-a-lo-pod.
As part of the Census of Marine Life, researchers have found the Lucy of the octopus world. The best part? It looks like Pearl of Finding Nemo fame.
“You made me ink!“
From the article:
The species could all be traced back to a shallow-water octopus that lived in the Southern Ocean. Today, the creature’s closest living relative (Megaleledone setebos) can still be found in the icy waters around Antarctica.
While we’re on cephalopods. Here’s a video of a cuttlefish using its active camouflage.
This color-changing function is produced by groups of red, yellow, brown, and black pigmented chromatophores above a layer of reflective iridophores and leucophores, with up to 200 of these specialized pigment cells per square millimeter. The pigmented chromatophores have a sac of pigment and a large membrane that is folded when retracted. There are 6-20 small muscle cells on the sides which can contract to squash the elastic sac into a disc against the skin.
Here’s a photo of a cuttlefish blending in with some yarn:
Spooky how well it blends in with its environment.
In the hobby since 2001, and has seen all kinds of fads come and go. As he gets older, Jeff is developing more and more of a conscience towards environmental concerns, especially towards reefs. Currently, he writes from Ontario, Canada, but would rather be snorkeling on a reef.