Octopus Camouflage

[BarnacleBoy]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS-USrwuUfA"]Octopus Camouflage Video[/ame]

Best parts at...

6 seconds on (from seaweed to...er...octopus
1:25 - 2:10 (from moving rock/shell critter to seaweed)

I've seen octopus camouflage before but it never ceases to amaze me!

 

[Scoobaru]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing with us. I never knew just how well celaphods could blend in with their surroundings as I've only ever seen them moving.

 

[artiz]

Wicked video, talk about stealth mode... with a wet suit like that... on second thoughts would it be ethical?
I saw my first John Dory in the summer and was amazed to see him subtly change colour from weeds to sand so perhaps even some fish have this ability but nowhere near the Octopus.
Great post BarnacleBoy... bask in your rep!

 

[BarnacleBoy]

I've dived down towards an octopus and seen it go sheet white which was spectacular to see. I am now however wondering if I've missed 99.9% of them. Is that really kelp we swim through? ;-)

 

[Broseidon]

 

[artiz]

I've dived down towards an octopus and seen it go sheet white which was spectacular to see. I am now however wondering if I've missed 99.9% of them. Is that really kelp we swim through? ;-)

I've watched this vid a few times now and wondered what the 2 commentators were talking about right at the end as in "camo means fooling whatever is looking at you"?
Most of the animals & fish which eat Octopuses are pretty much colour blind, most sharks, majority of whales and even seals... so why bother with colour camo unless there are also predators out there which do see in colour... like us and Orca's etc... how the hell did Octopuses work that one out if they are also colour blind?
The mind boggles - bit more info!

 

[BarnacleBoy]

They are just the most awesome creatures. Being able to change their skin texture, colour and seeming size is just the coolest thing ever. Makes us humans seem positively boring!