Usually when we write about wildlife encounters on the trail, we’re covering stories of bear attacks or defensive moose, but a group of Washington hikers recently got the surprise of their lives when they came across a giant octopus just off the trail. “What is this thing doing right here?” asks Micah Moehller,in a video […]
Tag: Octopuses
Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during sex to avoid being eaten, study shows
Male blue-lined octopuses inject females with venom during sex, paralysing their larger mates to avoid being eaten, new research has found. The blue-lined octopus is a tiny, highly dangerous cephalopod found commonly in shallow reefs and tide pools. One of the four species of blue-ringed octopus, it uses an extremely potent neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin – […]
This tiny animal has venom so deadly it could kill a human within minutes – and there’s no antidote
These cute cephalopods that fit in the palm of your hand could kill you in minutes with a venom a thousand times stronger than cyanide, says Melissa Hobson What are blue-ringed octopuses? Blue-ringed octopus are a genus of octopus known for their iridescent blue markings. These iconic patterns only reveal themselves when the little octopus […]
Do worms feel pain and are ants happy? Why the science on invertebrate feelings is evolving
Does a worm feel pain if it gets trodden on? Does a fly ache when its wings are pulled off? Is an ant happy when it finds a food source? If so, they may be sentient beings, which means they can “feel”, a bit or a lot, like we do. Invertebrate sentience is becoming an […]
Being A Solitary Animal Offers Surprising Benefits
Some creatures live surprisingly successful lives by staying solo. From hidden underground habitats to remote dens in the wild, they’ve learned to thrive without constant company. While group living can help many species hunt or defend their territory, going solo can reduce competition and stress, letting each individual claim their own resources. This quiet way […]
Nervous System in Octopus Arms is Separated into Segments, Study Finds
The octopus has a motor control challenge of enormous complexity. Each of its eight arms is a muscular hydrostat, a soft-bodied structure that lacks a rigid skeleton and moves with near infinite degrees of freedom. Moreover, the arms are packed with hundreds of suckers which can change shape independently. Even with this complexity, octopuses control […]
Two Giant Nets Pulled in a Day to Protect the Vaquita
In a dramatic mission, Sea Shepherd’s Milagro Task Force aboard the Seahorse made a significant discovery that highlights the escalating threat to marine life in the Vaquita Refuge, specifically within the ZTA extension. The crew detected what initially appeared to be multiple ghost nets, each located about 250 meters apart. However, after retrieval and further […]
Ever seen an octopus blushing? Sea creature turns a brilliant red as it emerges from under a rock on a Welsh beach in rare footage
Beachgoers have captured amazing footage of an octopus ‘blushing’ as it emerges from its hiding place on a Welsh beach. The curled octopus transforms from a ghostly white to deep orangey-red as it crawls out from under a rock at Menai Bridge beach, Anglesey. Experts think the animal may have changed colour when it detected […]