Meet the blue-lined octopus (Hapalochlaena fasciata), a tiny creature whose mating rituals read like a survival thriller. Mating is risky business for many octopuses, but male blue-lined octopuses take it to the next level by injecting their partners with a paralyzing venom to avoid becoming lunch. In this post, we’re exploring the blue-lined octopus’s high-stakes…
🚨🐙 Stage 8 Clinger Alert! From high-stakes shark rodeos to choking out dolphins, octopus expert and OctoNation founder Warren Carlyle breaks down the clingy tactics that keep these brains-with-suction-cups off the menu (sometimes 😅). Caught on Camera: Octopus Riding a Shark By now, you’ve probably seen the viral video: A giant orange Māori octopus clinging…
Ever wonder why people label octopuses as “aliens“? It’s not because they hitched a ride on a meteor from outer space. Nope, these eight-armed geniuses earned their intergalactic reputation by doing something no other Earthling does quite like them: rewriting their own genetic instructions. RNA editing is a fascinating biological process employed by cephalopods (octopus,…
Did you know octopuses come equipped with their own built-in “chainsaw”? YUP! Octopus teeth—Mother Nature really outdid herself on this one! These eight-armed wonders and their legendary relatives (think snails, slugs, and squids) have one ribbon-like tongue loaded with microscopic teeth called a radula. In cephalopods (octopuses, cuttlefish, squid, and nautilus), this radula basically revs…
In the waters of the Red Sea, fishes and octopuses appear to work together to hunt for tasty treats. However, some fish can get a bit cheeky and attempt to take advantage of the octopus’s efforts, according to a new study. If they do, they might just receive a swift punch from the octopus—a clear…
Ever wonder what keeps octopuses looking so fabulous under the sea? It turns out, they’ve got a special version of a skin[care] routine — bacteria! A recent study, published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, has revealed how unique bacteria living on octopus skin could play a crucial role in their health and survival. What…
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