Octopuses & Squids

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Watch Baby Octopuses Hatch from a Surprising Deep-Sea Nursery

Elated researchers watched baby octopuses hatch en masse near Pacific Ocean hydrothermal vents

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/watch-baby-octopuses-hatch-from-a-surprising-deep-sea-nursery/

Cephalopods

A highly intelligent group of ocean dwelling creatures, the living cephalopods include the eight-armed octopuses, the ten-armed squids and cuttlefishes, and the shelled chambered nautiluses. Early in their evolution, cephalopods relied on the sturdy protection of shells, but over time many eventually lost the outer shell and instead relied on new adaptations like heightened intelligence, a talent for hiding, and strong, flexible arms. The largest—the giant squid—measures longer than a school bus, while the smallest ones—like the pygmy squid and California lilliput octopus—could sit on the tip of your finger. Cephalopods have long fascinated humans and were frequently mentioned by Aristotle, and this fascination shows no signs of diminishing today.

https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/cephalopods

An Impressive Wealth | Octopus Odyssey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5jo9IhO8NA

 

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Deep-sea ‘hot tubs’ help octopus moms hatch their eggs faster 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most octopuses lead solitary lives. So scientists were startled to find thousands of octopus huddled together, protecting their eggs at the bottom of the ocean off the central California coast.

https://apnews.com/article/octopus-deepsea-garden-eggs-nest-6ef8d8b464d49bda4cda27b7eda270c9?

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Sexual cannibalism

A type of male octopus injects a powerful poison into the hearts of females before mating to avoid being eaten. That immobilizes the females, which are normally around twice their size and commonly devour their partners.

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Scientists discover how squids make themselves transparent.

A research team led by scientists at the University of California, Irvine, has revealed how squids manipulate light to shift from transparent to vividly colored. They found cells composed of stacked, spiraling columns of platelets from a protein called reflectin function as reflectors, selectively transmitting and reflecting light at specific wavelengths. The breakthrough could inspire advances in adaptive camouflage, responsive fabrics, and optical technologies.