Octopus escaping through a 1 inch hole
A little ceph-blogging for your enjoyment...
Octopuses have an amazing ability to squeeze through tiny crevices, cracks and holes. My fall BIOS independent studies student, Raymond Deckel is investigating just how small a hole Octopus macropus can fit through as well as how long it takes them to squeeze through different sizes of holes. CAABS intern Rowena Day, NSF-REU intern Jared Kibele as well as teaching assistant Abel Valdivia help wrangle the 232 g octopus, Ray times it’s escape through a 1 inch hole while I shot video clips for later analysis. Location: Whalebone Bay, St. George’s, Bermuda. Hat tip to Loren from Vancouver.
| |
I used the picture of the baby chipmunk as my desktop image for a long time. I've gone back to one of the default MS images for now, but you've inspired me to look for an octopus or maybe some other kind of underwater wildlife.
Posted by: anon | December 04, 2006 at 02:57 PM
http://www.alaska.com/about/photos/wildlife/story/5111437p-5038230c.html
I found one I like! xD
Posted by: anon | December 04, 2006 at 03:28 PM
OMG! First, awesome clip. I'm mildly concerned for their brain, though. Second, I'm from Bermuda and it's a bit surreal to have one of my favorite blogs mention my dear, small island.
Almost inspires me to go wrangle one myself!
Posted by: micheyd | December 04, 2006 at 06:17 PM
I am officially wigged. Now I must remember to use a fine mesh in all my anti-octopus screens.
Posted by: Brian | December 04, 2006 at 06:19 PM
Never lock down an octupus.....
......apparently. Wasted no time getting out. I wonder if they're claustrophobic?
I was worried about its 'head' as well. But that was utterly amazing.
Posted by: Kitt | December 04, 2006 at 07:32 PM
micheyd
Meet you at the Robin Hood for a few cocktails!
Posted by: The Phantom | December 04, 2006 at 08:35 PM
As I understand it, as long as the octo can fit its beak through, the rest of the body squeezes right through. The brain is apparently flexible enough to handle the squeezing.
Cephalopods are cool.
Posted by: Mnemosyne | December 04, 2006 at 09:58 PM
At the Univ. of Oregon’s Hatfield Marine Science Center there were some biggish octopi in drum-like tanks with open lids. The octopi were kept inside by affixing Astroturf around the rim: the octopi don’t like the way it feels. (I know a cat that hates Astroturf also.) One escaped once, and I found the poor thing a few days later dead in the drain ditch.
Sea otters off of Monterey, CA have learned to tear open discarded pop/beer cans as little octopi creep through the drink hole and live inside.
Posted by: cfrost | December 04, 2006 at 10:43 PM
micheyd, welcome! I didn't know we had any readers from Bermuda. Great to have you with us.
Posted by: Lindsay Beyerstein | December 05, 2006 at 12:25 AM
Phantom - Ha! :)
Thanks Lindsay, keep up the good work!
Posted by: micheyd | December 05, 2006 at 07:28 AM
Grr. You know, your octoblogging is the primary reason I haven't tried octopus?
I don't want to have ethical qualms about eating things!
I'm living in South Korea-- Octopus is on the menu all over the place.
Posted by: Anthony Damiani | December 05, 2006 at 08:11 AM
Octopus is good but chewy. Don't know about Korea, but the Japanese take squid mantles, cut and pull them like expanded metal, then marinate and dry them to make a very good jerky. The tapas bars in Spain serve breaded calamari sandwiches that are, well, you'd butcher your own children if they tasted half as good.
Posted by: cfrost | December 05, 2006 at 09:43 AM
Octopus can get out through a one-inch hole, but the Preznit can't get out of Iraq?
Posted by: Slothrop | December 05, 2006 at 07:13 PM