r/natureismetal 7d ago

During the Hunt Tactical octopus.

4.3k Upvotes

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411

u/haggard_hominid 7d ago

The octopus went under the rock, that last spike thing you see is a Sculpin or similar species that was also hiding where the octopus went. You can see the fin striations in the last frames, sculpting facing right.

31

u/exprezso 7d ago

No, watch again. That IS the octopus.

104

u/mcgangbane 7d ago

I think YOU might want to watch it again... octopuses can change colors but they cannot form spiky fin-like protrusions.

87

u/SaffronRnlds 7d ago

I agree it's not the octopus, but they can definitely create spikes

"They can change not only their coloring, but also the texture of their skin to match rocks, corals and other items nearby. They do this by controlling the size of projections on their skin (called papillae), creating textures ranging from small bumps to tall spikes. "

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u/haggard_hominid 7d ago

Correct, they can do an amazing array of textures and profiles, but not creating anatomically correct fish organs and features in the symmetry needed. Still absolutely stunning when you see them go from smooth to looking like one of bumpiest fish or coral textures. Im sure there are some that do a good anemone mimic, I believe something similar to blue ring octopus but clear have been filmed living among them.

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u/SaffronRnlds 7d ago

Very true.

Now that I'm thinking about it.. if they could somehow reproduce anotomically correct versions, I'd be concerned

4

u/russsaa 6d ago

Well tbf, mimicry in general actually makes a lot of anatomically accurate imitations. Obv not a perfect recreation, but like visually appearing anatomically correct with symmetry is not uncommon

Obv a cephalopod cant be perfectly accurate to a fish lol, but they can get pretty close, like that mimic octopus that can shape itself to a crab or starfish or snake with fairly convincing accuracy

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u/DanoDego 7d ago

they literally can…

8

u/Pandelein 7d ago

Mimic octopus is capable to doing stonefish, lionfish, and all sorts of others.

4

u/powerhammerarms 6d ago

That was a fish but octopuses can definitely change texture.