Shape-shifting Octopus!

This is the coolest thing I've seen in the animal kingdom in a long time. This octopus blows my mind while taking camouflage to a whole new level!

www.sciencefriday.com...

When marine biologist Roger Hanlon captured the first scene in this video he started screaming. (If you need to see it again, here's the raw footage.) Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are masters of optical illusion. These are some of Hanlon's top video picks of sea creatures going in and out of hiding.

I can say without a doubt this is the coolest Cephalopod video I have ever watched. (Not that I have watched that many...But nonetheless)

reply to post by Swills

Amazing. Was that for real?
Thanks for something new to me.
I was caught by your title and just had to look to see what it could be.
Amazing.

reply to post by boncho


I can't stop watching it! My mind, its blown!

@TerryMcGuire, it's all about the title

They have such amazingly complex camoflauge systems

wow that was trippy...just how much of this world is an optical illusion....

peace

This is amazing.


I wish we understood in more but in time. It just makes you wonder what other kinda fish haven't we found in the mostly unexplored Ocean.

Cephalopods are cool (tasty too).
Did you know owls can do it? Well...sort of.

....anybody else wish they could be an octopus?

or squid, or cuddlefish, what have you

reply to post by Swills


ill never forget the time i was scuba diving and got inked by about 10 squids at the same time
octopussys are amazing
easily the smartest animal

Cool thread topic and great video.

I was quite amazed honestly. Very high quality hiding capability.

Also, thanks for the Owl video Phage, very messed up!

reply to post by Phage


I did not know owls could do that! Freakin sweet!

reply to post by Swills


I love these animals!

Truly majestic!!!

You know what I found out just yesterday?

Many species of Octopus can actually drop a leg in defense , just like many lizards drop their tails.

They will regrow the leg eventually, and it works as a decoy to trick the predator that's chasing it into going after the leg for dinner, rather than the body.

Apparently it's true.

Just think of all the sophisticated defense mechanisms these creatures have developed. They can ink you and run, camo and hide, loose a leg just to fool you, etc. Very versatile.

reply to post by muzzleflash


No way? Man...sign me up for experimental surgery. ILL BE A SUPERHERO! Shape changing, limb regrowing...OH NO, ID BE A REPTILLIAN XD

Is it possible to at least have a picture as not everyone can access YouTube in this world? Many a post like this gets passed over due to not being able to access YouTube. I would love to watch it but can not due to it being blocked.

On topic: I have seen some great camo done by these amazing creatures.

reply to post by pstrron


Hmmm. blocked? If you went to the link I also provided it would take you to a link on their site of the raw footage

www.sciencefriday.com...

Other than that, no pictures could ever do this video justice.

octopi wear ghillie suits of the ocean . that owl is down right scary! get it away from me

Cephalopods are quite amazing. I also repeatedly watched it LoL. And Phage, that owl was crazy! I've never seen one like that, what's the name of that owl? And thanks OP & Phage for sharing those.

reply to post by Swills


Yep blocked, I currently live in China and they block a lot of things but thank God not ATS! Thanks for the link, I had over looked it.