“The greater blue-ringed octopus is one of several species of blue-ringed octopuses. All are thought to be venomous and for their size, they are the most deadly of all cephalopods. It is said that the venom of this octopus could kill 26 adults in just a few minutes. There is no antivenom for treatment. Fortunately, these octopuses do not attack humans. Injury typically occurs when a blue-ringed octopus is stepped on or picked up.” (Source)
NEW SPECIES OF DUMBO OCTOPUS DISCOVERED IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN
The dumbo octopuses are a group of deep-sea cephalopods with around 45 species know to date. These octopuses have “fins” on the sides of the head, resembling elephant ears, and have relativelly small sizes.
Now, using a cominantion of minimally invasive gene analysis and non-invasive techniques digital photography, a team of german biologists has discovered a new species of dumbo octopus, named Emperor dumbo Grimpoteuthis imperator, living at more than 4000 m depth in the northern part of the Emperor Seamounts, an undersea mountain chain in the northwestern part of the North Pacific.
- Map of the North Pacific Ocean. Red dot shown location of the Emperor seamounts, from where the Emperor Dumbo was discovered.
Usually, collecting and describing organisms from the deep ocean implies invasive methods, requiring dissection to examine internal organism, and even partial destruction of specimes. Thus, this methodology help to maintain valuable specimes for further researchs.
-Collected in July 2016, using a chain bag dredge, the specimen reached 30 cm in size, and was identified as a mature male. Using a combination of MRI, micro-CT, researchers were able to build the first interactive 3D model of a cephalopod beak.
Researchers make available a digital copy of the animal, so anybody interested can download it from the online database “MorphoBank” for further research and learning purposes. The preserved octopus itself is kept in the archives of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin, Germany.
At first glance, the blue-ringed octopus looks perfectly innocuous in their beautiful color pattern, bur rather, is an warning signal to potential predators. These colorful tiny octopus can kill you if they feel in danger.
blue-ringed octopus are actually four highly venomous species of octopus found in tide pools and coral reefs in the Pacific and Indian oceans, from Japan to Australia. They produce a potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, a potentially-deadly substance also found in pufferfish. The toxin is produced by symbiotic bacteria in the blue-ringed octopus’s salivary glands, and is usually used in hunting and self-defence.
@Thomas_Clements and@djbirddanerd helped me compile everything you need to know about cephalopods so you can #InsertAnInvert into your artwork.
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#InsertAnInvert is a series of invertebrate drawing guides done in collaboration with actual experts (like, literal Dr. Crabs and Dr. Cephalopods and all that) so if you could give them a follow on twitter that’d be swell.
High-res PDFs available for free on my rarely updated Patreon. Absolutely no money required. I just think Patreon is useful for attaching PDFs.
A relic from oceans long ago, the chambered nautilus was swimming in the ocean before dinosaurs walked the Earth. This ancient weirdo has remained relatively unchanged for 400 million years. It’s eyesight it poor, but it has a great sense of smell. It has an incredibly strong grip thanks to the over 90 tentacle-like appendages called cirri. While this weirdo’s shell is large, but the nautilus itself is only 10 inches long. Many have heard of this weirdo before because of Fibbinaci’s spiral and golden ratio. But mathematicians disagree that the nautilus’s shell is an example of that, saying that there is too much variability amongst shell shapes (though its not impossible to find one that fits the perfect spiral).
Where are the chambers?
Believe it or not this weirdo is a cephalopod, meaning they are related to squid, octopus, and cuttlefish. They differ from other cephalopods in 2 major ways; it cannot change color, and its squishy body is protected by a shell. Other cephalopods evolved to no longer need one, not the nautilus! The above photo shows inside the shell where all the chambers are. They’re born with 4 chambers, but as they grow more sections are walled off. They use their shell for protection, but also for buoyancy! To move vertically in the water column, they move air and liquid around the chambers through a tube called the siphuncle (more air means positive buoyancy and they move up!). The nautilus’s shell is a tribute to how long it has endured on this planet, and unfortunately it could now be its downfall.
A double edged sword
The chambered nautilus survived 5 mass extinctions, but their population is struggling with this potential 6th one. They suffer from climate change related issues like everyone else, but the biggest problem is people harvesting them for their shells. I haven’t found records of anyone who relies on them for sustenance, implying their only harvesting purpose for us is decorative. Shell harvesting is unregulated and the nautilus hasn’t been classified as threatened or endangered. How can you help? Be careful where you buy your nautilus shells! Not getting them at all is the best option, but asking about where they come from can’t hurt either. Another option for the cephalopod enthusiast is to collect fossils from their extinct cousin, the ammonite. Since they’re already extinct and easy to find, it’s a less invasive alternative.
Check out this video to learn more about the Chambered Nautilus!
A Flamboyant Cuttlefish (Metasepia Pfefferi) patrols the substrate using two forward arms.
From the Cephalopods Family: Blue-Ringed Octopus, Mimic Octopus, Wunderpuss and Flamboyant Cuttlefish are often the most fun to engage, as they are also the most intelligent of marine creatures. The Wunderpus and Mimic both enjoy feeding on and playing with mantis shrimp, and as a result they tend to share the same habitat. Hunting on open sand flats, they will move from hole to hole in search of their next meal. Both are fast moving, animated creatures that are quick to morph colors and shapes.
Flamboyant cuttlefish can be seen walking about on the substrate using two forward arms, and rarely swim unless threatened. The colors are generally muted until the cuttlefish is excited, when it flashes its flamboyant colors to ward off predators or to communicate. The skin tissue is also reported to contain TTX, so contact with a flamboyant cuttlefish is highly discouraged. Cephalopods are the most intelligent invertebrates on earth, however they have a physical limitation that requires them to rest often. Their hemoglobin wont carry much oxygen as other critters, and most have two hearts to help pump the blood through their body. This is a big advantage for underwater photographers.
Nipponites would’ve been so awkward swimming there’s a hypothesis that it grew stationary as a filter feeder and its shell wound through rock or even around giant sea sponges or something
If an alien race were the same size as these octopi, the females would be 6.6ft (2m) in height, and their males would only be 2.4cm tall.
Imagine seeing what you think is your alien comrade sitting alone with dinner, only to see a tiny figure dart across the table like a bug. It scurries up her arm and seems to plant a little kiss on her cheek.
Surprise, she’s having dinner with her husband!
Why is that dinner bit so cute gosh
This could be us but you decided not to be 457 feet tall
Ghibli knew what was up
just because i needed an approximate visual scale on this
Wife:*sneezes*
Husband: *catapulted through the nearest window with a soft “ping” sound*
Wife: Oh. Oh shit! Ok. Nobody move, please! I’ve lost my husband! Can someone check the ground please, make sure he hasn’t fall into your pocket or something. He has to be around somewhere.
