We know that octopuses are highly intelligent creatures, but there’s still plenty that we haven’t discovered about them. Scientists long-thought that they were solitary animals and were confined to tidal areas – but relatively recent research has disproved this. However, that’s not all, as there are plenty of odd octopus species found around the world.
- It might look like a clam, but don’t be fooled – this is no clam. It walks on two legs and tucks its home under its arms wherever it goes
- It’s 2 miles deep, close to a volcano, the size of 233 soccer fields and home to a whopping 20,000 creatures
- These are the deadliest octopuses in the world – and one has enough venom to kill dozens of humans within minutes
- These 15 magical photos show just how uniquely beautiful octopuses can be
World’s weirdest octopuses
Dumbo octopus
Dumbo octopuses are a little-studied deep-sea specimen. They’re found in the bathyal and abyssal zones (up to 6,000 metres deep) and have soft bodies to cope with the intense pressure at these depths.
Dumbo octopuses also have a clever reproductive strategy to maximise success. Female octopuses contain eggs at different stages of maturation, ready at any time for a male to transfer a sperm packet. She then controls the timing of fertilisation and lays the fertilised eggs when conditions are optimal.
Abdopus octopus
The Abdopus octopus is found in intertidal zones along the Northern Australian coastline. While most octopuses are restricted to rockpools at low tide, the Abdopus octopus can pull itself out and crawl around using the tiny suckers on its arms.
This means it can move from rockpool to rockpool hunting for fish and crustaceans. While other octopus species can ‘walk’ on two of their arms (known as bipedal locomotion), the Abdopus is the only species that’s specially adapted to walk on land.
Glass octopus
The glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) is rarely-seen, due to it living in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic ocean zones. Unsurprisingly, they get their common name from their translucent, almost colourless, appearance.
- Bewitching glass octopus rarely seen alive filmed near remote Pacific islands
- What actually is the twilight zone? And why is it called that?
Mimic octopus
Many octopus species (and other cephalopods such as cuttlefish) can change colour, but the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) takes it a step further. It can contort its body to mimic the appearance and behaviour of multiple animals.
The mimic octopus usually has brown and beige markings, which allows it to blend in on the seafloor. However, it’s been observed to mimic flatfish, lionfish and even sea snakes.
It’s thought that the octopus does this to avoid these venomous and poisonous predators.
- Camouflage in animals: how and why animals change colour
- Watch this incredible rare video of an octopus changing colour on a Welsh beach
Larger Pacific striped octopus
The larger Pacific striped octopus has a rather unusual hunting technique: instead of pouncing of prey, it taps it on the shoulder.
This startles its prey straight into its open tentacles. It’s particularly impressive considering that when used on shrimp, it has to reach over sensitive antennae.
Argonauts
Argonauts are the only species of octopus to create an egg case, with the females creating one that looks similar to a shell. They’re made from calcium carbonate and start to form at 12 days old.
Once sexually mature, argonauts use it as a brooding chamber for their unhatched young. It also acts as a lifejacket for the argonaut, as unlike other octopuses, it stays closer to the ocean’s surface. Without this shell, the argonaut would sink to the seafloor.
Male argonauts also have some odd quirks. Most male octopuses have an external penis, so they can transfer sperm from inside their body to a female octopus. However, male argonauts develop sperm in a pouch under their eye. They detach this from their body and transfer the entire pouch to the female. It’s even been observed to move independently and sense danger.
Gloomy octopus
Octopuses are generally thought to be solitary creatures, but researchers made a surprising discovery off the coast of Jervis Bay, Australia, in 2012. They found two sites where gloomy octopuses (Octopus tetricus) were living together, which were dubbed Octopolis and Octlantis.
Pearl octopus
The ‘cephalopod cities’ of Octopolis and Octlantis are nothing compared to the Octopus Garden, however. Thousands of female pearl octopuses (Muusoctopus robustus) were found to be gathering off the coast of Monterey, California, in response to chilly water temperatures.
