The mimic octopus is a smaller octopus, growing to a total length of about 60cm (2ft), including arms, with a diameter approximately that of a pencil at their widest. It is the behaviour of the mimic octopus that gives it its name and makes it stand out from all other species. While the waters are not crystal clear, they are not overly mirky either. The mimic octopus was first discovered off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia in 1998 on the bottom of a muddy river mouth. For example, an octopus which was being harassed by damselfish mimicked a banded sea snake, a damselfish predator. The mimic octopus can either be classified as a hunter or a forager. Dive sites in the Indonesia - Malaysia region, where there are volcanic sand sea beds, are the most likely spots for diving with mimic octopus: Dive The World Recommendations: Lembeh Strait and Bali in Indonesia, and Lankayan Island in Malaysia. In this article, we explore the similarities and differences between these enchanting creatures. Their preferred habitat is relatively shallow water normally less than 15 metres deep where there is a sand or silt substrate, so often this means near river mouths or estuaries. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The creatures are the most intelligent invertebrates on Earth, according to LiveScience. ), a new octopus from the tropical Indo-West Pacific (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae). Please be respectful of copyright. The mimic octopus ( Thaumoctopus mimicus) is a species of octopus from the Indo-Pacific region. With the help of donors like you, Ocean Conservancy is developing innovative solutions to save our ocean. One creature that is high on many experienced divers wish list is the incredible mimic octopus. The mimicking miracle octopus earns its weighty name. Very little is really known about the mimic octopus and how their numbers may have fluctuated over time. [4] It has since been found to inhabit the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea and Gulf of Oman in the west to New Caledonia in the east, and Gulf of Thailand and the Philippines in the north to the Great Barrier Reef in south. In addition to just changing its color and texture, the animal will change the way it moves its arms to impersonate a variety of other marine species. Read more. We were never kept waiting and every email we wrote was met with a fast and pertinent response. The mimic octopus was discovered in 1998 off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Sep 10, 2021. They take on different forms to hunt and stalk their prey while at the same time they can also be seen foraging for food. Octopuses are sometimes called the chameleons of the sea. 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That is because those are the only two animals that are common to those conditions that a mimic octopus can survive on. Because the mimic octopus prefers to live in shallow, murky waters, it is believed that its diet consists almost exclusively of small fish and crustaceans. That coloring may not all be mimicry, though. Let's see if we can uncover some truths about the fascinating creature that is the mimic octopus Family name: Octopodidae Heres the story of a cephalopod that has taken the field of deception to a whole new level. According to some scientific observations this theory was reinforced when a mimic octopus under attack by damselfishes, adopted the appearance of the banded sea snake, a predator of the damselfish. The mimic octopus wasn't discovered until 1998, so scientists are still learning basic characteristics. Like other octopus species, the male places a sac of sperm inside the female's mantle. Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at, Giant Octopus Checks Out Camera and Diver [Video], Octopus! Katherine Harmon Courage is an independent science journalist and contributing editor for Scientific American. Receive email updates to learn how you can help make a difference for the future of our ocean. However the mimic clearly thrives in its environment and many believe this boldness is possible only because of its ability to impersonate other venomous creatures. Its ability to change shape is the reason it was named the "mimic" octopus, which is its main defense besides camouflage. Social vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference? They found that the octopus began to swim like a flatfish around the same time that it evolved very long arms. The male dies a few months after mating and the female dies a short time after laying eggs. They live between 3 to 5 years. Please try again 650 Castro Street [ 1] It can mimic 15 different species (that we know of)! (2013). Octopus Hearing Test Can Octopuses Hear or Are They Deaf? This allows the animal to quickly change color by expanding or contracting the cells, and ultimately blend into its environment. Anon () was a female Japanese virtual security YouTuber who posted videos about information security/hacking-related topics. More unusual, however, is its mimicry of other species. Coker spotted the octopus on a shallow sand flat near Lizard Island during a super low tide on the afternoon of July 4, 2012. As with all octopus, the mimic has 8 arms, a mantle containing 3 hearts and other internal organs, and a siphon used for jet propulsion. She is a contributing writer in science for Smithsonian.com and blogs at Wild Things, which appears on Science News. The arms have 2 rows of suckers, each sucker having a touch sensor and a chemoreceptor, allowing the mimic effectively to feel and taste its food before it eats it. The mimic octopus retains the ability to camouflage with its sandy environment. No time to browse our site?Ask a question - we`ll email you right back. They are relatively small and reach only 2 feet in length. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0; additional terms may apply. As with all octopus, the mimic has 8 arms, a mantle containing 3 hearts and other internal organs, and a siphon used for jet propulsion. There is a longer list of animals the mimic is said to imitate some of which are less convincing than the above examples and include brittle stars, sea shells, jellyfish, Don King, mantis shrimp, anemones, and giant crabs whom they are said to imitate as an apparent mate, only to attack and eat its would-be lover. "The origins and affinities of the mimic octopus are unclear," note the paper's authors. The ability to impersonate other dangerous animals is particularly helpful in the shallow, sandy environment that the mimic octopus calls home. We achieve this by having the best team create content - this ranges from marine experts, trained scuba divers, marine-related enthusiasts, and more. Its depths hold countless wonders, from vibrant coral reefs teeming with life to strange and unknown creatures that have yet to be discovered. Sole (flatfish): The mimic octopus can hurriedly glide over the ocean floor by pulling its arms flush against its' body and flattening out to resemble a sole. Get a daily look at whats developing in science and technology throughout the world. An experienced observer will know the wonderpus by the presence of strong white markings which are fixed and therefore do not alter when at rest or in an excited state. All rights reserved. In this video, a marine life researcher is diving in waters that are home to the mimic octopus. Like many other cephalopods, the mimic octopus has color-changing cells, or chromatophores, covering its skin. It prefers river mouths and estuaries, as opposed to reefs which are usually preferred as shelter by other types of octopus. However, while divers have been poking around reefs for years and years, the kind of diving which takes place in their habitat (muck), has been a reasonably recent pursuit. Although many animals mimic either their environment or other animals to avoid predation, the mimic octopus and its close relative the wunderpus are the only ones known to actively imitate a number of animals in order to elude predators. These tricks apparently work. Enter your email and never miss an update. We were never kept waiting and every email we wrote was met with a fast and pertinent response. The more exciting parts come when you see the mimic octopus take the shape of a flounder. The booking process was also effortless and all of our requests were realized. The males usually survive only a few weeks after this process. When viewed from above you would think that you were looking at a flounder and not an octopus. All rights reserved. The mimic octopus lives on a rich, sandy bottom, where it can feed on prey like crabs, worms and small fish. It is home to an incredible diversity of life, from tiny plankton to giant whales, and its depths contain many mysteries yet to be uncovered. Actual prices may vary. Like other octopus species, the male places a sac of sperm inside the females mantle. Learning From and Standing With Climate Justice Communities, Senior Policy Analyst, Fish Conservation Program, Sorry, but we failed to add you to the list. Most commonly it is the wonderpus that is mis-identified because it has a similar size, shape and general colour, and also lives in similar habitats to the mimic. Privacy Statement Perhaps it was this banded cephalopods incredible impersonation abilities that kept it from science for so long. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Explore. What is Our Oceans Role in the Transition to Clean Energy? She has been living and teaching diving in Indonesia for the last few years, and traveling and diving the world in her free time. The fact that all of the species it imitates are venomous, adds to the likelihood that this is an evolved and deliberate strategy. [1][5][6] Most documented records are from Indonesia. Did an Ancient Magnetic Field Reversal Cause Chaos for Life on Earth 42,000 Years Ago? It has since been found to inhabit the Indo-Pacific, ranging from the Red Sea in the west to New Caledonia in the east, and Gulf of Thailand and the Philippines in the north to the Great Barrier Reef in south. In a new study in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, biologists examined DNA sequences of the mimic octopus and 35 of its relatives to create a family tree and determine when each of the mimic's distinctive traits evolved. The mind-blowing creativity of the mimic octopus makes it stand out amongst the deceptive creatures of the animal kingdom. Eles so notveis por serem capazes de mudar sua cor e textura da pele, a fim de se misturar com seu ambiente, como rochas incrustadas de algas e corais atravs de sacos de pigmentos conhecidos como cromatforos, bem como o comportamento nico de tomar forma de vrios objetos e animais. Eventually, the diver comes across a mimic octopus. The female fertilises, and then carries the eggs in strings while continuing to feed, a feature unusual for octopus. Mimic octopus are only believed to have been officially 'discovered' as recently as 1998, off the coast of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Note: Currency conversions are for display purposes only and are the current exchange rate equivalents of the USD prices shown on our website. Mimic octopuses have been observed mimicking numerous different species of animals, some animals being mimicked more often than others. But when it comes to trickery, there is one animal that rises above the rest: the mimic octopus. When feeding, this intriguing octopus shows both hunting and foraging behaviors. It can flatten all of its arms together and wave its way along the bottom like a sole. Perhaps it was this banded cephalopod's incredible impersonation abilities that kept it from science for so long. Being a fleshy creature with no bones, no spines and no poison, this makes the mimic octopus a very interesting proposal to anything in the sea with teeth and a stomach. It prefers river mouths and estuaries, as opposed to reefs which are usually preferred as shelter by other types of octopus. The booking process was also effortless and all of our requests were realized. Is this creature really as 'talented' as we are all told? The adult octopus's body measured roughly 10 centimeters, and "it . Its ability to change shape is the reason it was named the "mimic" octopus, which is its main defense besides camouflage. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The animal kingdom is packed with creatures that use strange and unusual methods to trick predators. Somewhere along the way she became a dive instructor and began living her dream, after a first career that wasnt quite fulfilling enough. But, as you'll read below, a chameleon's camouflage game is weak compared to that of the mighty octo. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine Many Animals, Including the Platypus, Lost Their Stomachs. 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). | READ MORE. These aren't perfect impersonations, but they may startle a predator enough that the octopus has time to flee. The octopus learns which animals bother their predators and take on that form to drive away potential danger. The octopus may be able to intelligently use its mimicry based on the situation. 1. Unauthorized use is prohibited. ", Coker, Darren J. Most documented records are from Indonesia. Honor A Loved One's Milestone Or Memory With A Donation In Their Name. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Mimics are normally quite small, growing only up to 60 cm (2 feet) long and have a body covered with brown and white stripes or spots, although in a resting state their body colour is more of a pale brown or beige. Take a deep dive into the fascinating world of seahorses and sea dragons. The mimic octopus can either be classified as a hunter or a forager. All of our questions were answered in detail which made shaping our itinerary easy and effortless. A diver from Mayak Gamov, Russia, was exploring the Sea of Japan when the massive mollusk swam up to him and latched on. The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is a species of octopus from the Indo-Pacific region. First discovered in 1998, this newbie creature has wowed scientists and divers with its incredible ability to mimic several different underwater species to hide, hunt, and escape. She is a PADI Course Director and a DDI Instructor. Lately, theyve been found in the Great Barrier Reef. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. There are plenty of other sea creatures in the area. It decides which mimicry behavior would be most appropriate and acts upon it. They can also be found in the Indo-Pacific mainly the Red Sea, New Caledonia, Gulf of Thailand, Philippines,and the Great Barrier Reefin the south. 11 Cute Frogs You Will Love (with Pictures), 8 Bioluminescence Creatures that Glow the Ocean, 4 Common Types of Coastal Wetlands (and Benefits), 10 of the Best Beach Sunset Locations in the World. 2. | The mimic octopus is a smaller octopus, growing to a total length of about 60cm (2ft), including arms, with a diameter approximately that of a pencil at their widest. The new catch, landed in the upper Gulf of Thailand, was described last month in the Phuket Marine Biological Center Research Bulletin [pdf]. The female dies shortly after the eggs are ready to hatch, so young mimic octopus must survive on their own. 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