The Mimic octopus: These cephalopods were described somewhat recently just before the turn of the century one has to wonder. If they’re amazing camouflage capabilities had anything to do with this.
Mimic octopus facts
The mimic octopus is not only able to change its color to blend in with its surroundings it will also take on the shape of other animals in order to avoid being eaten. The mimic octopus is a marine animal usually found in shallow sandy or muddy habitats it may live near coral reefs and it will also make its way into estuaries. In size the mimic octopus averages between 1 and 2 feet in length but that’s including its long spindly arms.
Are Mimic octopus poisonous?
These arms come in handy when using mimicry tactics one animal. The mimic octopus impersonates is the sea snake, the octopus will hide six of its arms displaying the other two to look like one of the world’s most venomous animals other predators who might otherwise eat an octopus will turn tail at the site of a sea snake.
So, the octopus lives another day speaking of burrows the mimic octopus spends its nights in burrows that have been vacated by other animals during the day it’s on the hunt for food these cephalopods eat small fish and crustaceans. They’ll stick their arms into cracks and crevices to try and grab a meal they’ll also glide over the bottom of the ocean to flush out any animals that may be hiding in the substrate.
If startled by a predator the mimic octopus can swim like an octopus and even release ink to confuse the attacker. However, they can also take on the form of a flatfish and continue gliding over the ocean floor in disguise sometimes the octopus will appear drab looking like a harmless olive flounder but other times it will take on the color of soul, who can be quite toxic.
Scientists aren’t quite sure why the mimic octopus may switch it up between the two these cephalopods are found in Indo-Pacific waters and like other octopus species they’re believed to die soon after reproducing the male’s will attract the attention of females by putting on courtship displays. When a female is interested the male will grasp her and cert one of his arms into her mantle to place a pack of sperm.
Cephalopods who do this to the females eggs will become fertilized as she lays them the eggs will hatch into a larva stage where they’ll float through the water column until they’re large enough to become benthic adults. Because they perish shortly after breeding these animals in general don’t have long lifespans another animal.
What animals does the octopus mimic?
The mimic octopus impersonates when avoidant fishy predators is the lionfish well known as a venomous fish. Lionfish usually aren’t messed with so the octopus mimicking them often goes unscathed in a twist of fate. The mimic octopus is also mimicked the Harlequin Jawfish will stick close to a mimic octopus and blend in with the octopuses arm coloration to avoid being noticed.
The mimic octopus also looks similar to another octopus species the wonder posed octopus but will be saving them for next time.
Reference: Mimic octopus video
