[{"selector":"#anim-16e8d161-2424-4040-a555-e9dbbde20942","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-273cff78-bb4b-48df-bd8d-71f60130a5aa","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c648ddda-0e5a-4cad-bc74-9ede0ead67bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.61342%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c2a60da4-8109-4bc2-8ade-bebf7dec72a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bad6d13-dc89-4dc4-8bde-a7952df34225","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-565703ff-67d5-4b16-9bd8-e73d32af043d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.33547%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7ce58461-7cad-44c0-a7ee-e9fbc410e5f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04f22962-d4e5-4e7e-ba49-8fc96203e6f0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Mimic Octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-6e90e49a-43f4-4f21-9653-fbc25550173c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-46f8caf2-8ea0-48f2-b3aa-70b6f21af10e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-457fd93f-45a2-414c-8f46-0b0e8ea1f784","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -457.3192%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Mimic Octopus is best known for… well, being a mimic! It imitates all kinds of other sea creatures, from flatfishes to sea snakes to anemones. Learn more

Mimics are also subterranean experts. They can dig burrows, navigate underground tunnels, and even blindly stick their arms into holes in search of snacks!

[{"selector":"#anim-a9aa7e5e-9eaa-406f-ab70-fefa71b0f4da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d0ab002-1c83-4966-896d-aaca5c48fe3c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 332.75720%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23616300-7ff8-449d-9622-5c449297dc05","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

SIZE This is a moderate-sized species with a mantle length to 58 mm (2 in), & total length to over 480 mm (19 in).

[{"selector":"#anim-98a048a4-5e5a-42e7-b59c-06366280d35b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5299f036-fe9c-48d0-b754-4005767dd148","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c38502fb-2aec-4b25-8ba3-4f1731b97aa5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(119.25675%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62dc8520-e27b-4295-a46b-44ad3213b847","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-22e89fb3-2e96-4fff-a9c7-8c604f8a6383","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] LIFESPAN The lifespan of this species is unknown, but it likely lives for 1-2 years. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-28ed5415-09ba-4cb8-9150-29574b3e22d8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08892c1d-d99e-4411-b67b-f47e17519c26","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] LOCATION Discovered off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, this species range is the tropical Indo-West Pacific from north-east Australia, New Caledonia, & Papua New Guinea, through Indonesia, north to the Philippines, & west to the Red Sea. Learn more

HABITAT

[{"selector":"#anim-a4570ca4-9318-407a-991b-f30a73ddf28d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This is a shallow water octopus inhabiting coastal water on soft sediment (silt or sand substrate) in water from 0.5 m (1.5 ft) to at least 37 m (121 ft). Learn more

DIET The silt or sand habitat is rich in benthic prey such as worms, echinoderms, crustaceans (crabs and shrimps), and fishes which also live in burrows, tunnels, and mounds.

[{"selector":"#anim-bcacf5c6-fabc-47d5-b3a7-c526069a6318","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-258afd74-0be0-43cb-b4b4-9a118b1a6de2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e6e6ad9-818e-4ef1-bc0f-10c846e52706","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.83334%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-69a5995c-b270-4e74-9f01-cae767196d17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4ed5513-35ff-4a24-a468-5652958236dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.56945%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e51448b1-de82-4452-816b-c565f500c9b7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02566ebd-f9c7-4a26-8282-448568cacc76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.91667%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] BODY PATTERNS AND BEHAVIORS No underwater structure, no problem! This species belongs to a clade (group) of long-armed octopuses that have adapted to a life living in an open sand seascape. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-f33abcba-1b4e-445e-ab8e-38f0dff9e309","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The color patterns of this species are variable from a uniform pale or dark, to mottled, to dramatically banded or high contrast body pattern. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-024396d8-2d93-4eb6-a159-8b12f38dcee8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15438eec-b291-4f25-8168-ea48d4ed97e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cdf8688b-d296-4af0-9ac7-3a63df3b93f9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -570.76021%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] SWIPE UP To read more! Learn more

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[{"selector":"#anim-d5722c56-28d8-409c-87c1-82882c1d9235","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1a85c92-0f0e-4a12-af59-359ec7651146","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-186a50b0-405a-466e-9e1f-a8b6fcdf6dbb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-086c6ad0-78f3-4b37-a8a4-0d2ab4125ce8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82c6e0d3-c792-4e78-a742-64f0ea6a727a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1f616221-dd56-4eda-a2a0-7fda79dbcd51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dee6510b-a515-464a-8b63-b54349102a40","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7905909a-3023-4c7b-9b9e-79bd3801fd52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3d4385d-a218-4fe2-bd72-2fdbb237c30c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f70f8167-6528-417e-aea2-fb977b57385f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d01f734b-114f-492e-8b3c-238a4215dc0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-371f2139-154f-44bc-8e01-6080bab0a0ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08dbc637-55f8-4a57-83ec-24d40a86e264","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4d024b7c-a0e4-4ff6-a579-80ed8fab60c3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-130.96775%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-05dd20c3-b2d6-48e9-bc93-bd13aa9ad888","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Vulcanoctopus (Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis) Greater Argonaut (Argonauta argo) Wunderpus (Wunderpus photogenicus)

Mimics are also subterranean experts. They can dig burrows, navigate underground tunnels, and even blindly stick their arms into holes in search of snacks!

SIZE This is a moderate-sized species with a mantle length to 58 mm (2 in), & total length to over 480 mm (19 in).

HABITAT

DIET The silt or sand habitat is rich in benthic prey such as worms, echinoderms, crustaceans (crabs and shrimps), and fishes which also live in burrows, tunnels, and mounds.

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STORIES