Common Octopus (7/8/2011)

     Today's species changes color depending on it's mood and situation. It's the Common Octopus. Common octopi have eight legs, are very intelligent, and is unique for just its appearance alone.


     The common octopus has a massive bulbous head, large eyes, and eight distinctive arms. On each leg, there is a row of suction cups. It has the ability to match the color, pattern and texture of its surroundings so it can hide in plain sight. It also changes colors to represent its mood. Common octopi have eyes on the top of their head and a beak in the center of their cluster of arms.

     Common octopi have various ways to escape predators. First, they will blend in with there surroundings and hide in plain sight. If still discovered, an octopus will release a cloud of black ink to obscure its attacker's view, giving it time to swim away. The ink even contains a substance that dulls a predator's sense of smell, making the fleeing octopus harder to track. Fast swimmers, they can jet forward and propel themselves away. And their soft bodies can squeeze into impossibly small cracks and crevices where predators can't follow. If all else fails, an octopus can lose an arm to escape a predator's grasp and regrow it later with no permanent damage. They have also been known to deliver a nasty bite, which releases venomous saliva, used mainly for subduing prey.

    
     These octopi are the most studied of all octopus species. Training experiments have shown that the common octopus can distinguish the brightness, size, shape, and horizontal or vertical orientation of objects. They are intelligent enough to learn how to unscrew a jar and are known to raid lobster traps. That's one smart animal!

      They make their home in holes or crevices in the rocky terrain of the tropical and temperate waters of the world’s oceans. Its natural range extends from the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of England to at least Senegal in Africa. It also can be found off the Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde Islands. The common octopus will walk on the bottom or swim head first (with tentacles trailing behind). 

     This intelligent and colorful species is threatened by toxins, pollution, and over fishing. If you would like to donate and save a common octopus, you can visit: http://www.worldwildlife.org/ogc/species_SKU.cfm?gid=23.

Common Octopus Fun Facts:

• Scientific Name: Octopus vulgaris
• Threat Level: Least Concern
• Length: 1-3 ft.
• Weight: 6.6-22 lbs.
• Lifespan: 1-2 years in wild
• Typical Diet: crabs, crayfish and mollusks are preferred, although the octopus will eat almost anything it can catch
• Common octopi will collect crustacean shells and other objects to construct fortresses, or "gardens," around their lairs
• They hunt at dusk
• Each arm can grow to be 1 meter long