Eight-legged Freaks

How awesome are octopi? Ha, it’s a rhetorical question! I already know that octopi are totally freakin’ awesome, because I have not one, not two, but three Awesome Science Videos of octopi for you.

First up is an octopus demonstrating why they are known as incredible escape artists, squeezing its entire body through a tiny 1-inch hole. The speed at which it both finds and exits through the gap, and how it contorts itself to do it, are impressive in equal measure.

Secondly, we all know that octopi have eight legs, but did you know that some like to run around on just two of them? Researcher Christine Huffard and her team observed two different species of octopi running along the seabed on their arms, and published a paper on the phenomenon (online pdf here). Can you imagine a bipedal octopus? You don’t have to, I have the video proof right here.

Thanks to rayatseagal at the Bad Science Forum!

Finally, and in my opinion, the most incredible of all, is a video demonstrating the jaw-dropping ability of an octopus to camouflage itself against its background. How the film maker ever spotted it in the first place is beyond me, but I’m glad they did.

If you liked this, check out this octopus, which can mimic a flatfish, a sea snake or a poisonous lion fish! Wow!

17 comments December 6th, 2006