![]() Furthermore, when motionless, the octopuses assumed body patterns and postures that resembled small sponges, tube-worm tubes, or colonial tunicates, which were among the few objects in the open sand habitat. During flounder mimicry, octopuses were actively moving and conspicuous, whereas immediately before and afterwards they were camouflaged and motionless. ![]() Both octopus species mimicked the shape, swimming actions, speed, duration, and sometimes the coloration of swimming flounders. Mimicry of a local, abundant flounder was observed nearly 500 episodes were analyzed. The octopus will then impersonate the motions of a jellyfish swimming by going to the surface and then slowly sinking with its arms spread evenly around its body many octopus predators avoid jellyfish.The so-called "mimic octopus" of tropical Indo-Pacific are reputed to mimic up to 15 species of other local marine organisms. Jellyfish – The mimic octopus will act as a jellyfish sometimes, by puffing up its head and siphon and letting its arms trail behind it. What remains in view is a long thin object with white and black bands running across the elongated body, resembling a venomous sea snake, which most predators avoid.įlatfish – By pulling its arms together on one side, and flattening out its body while moving forward along the ocean floor, the mimic octopus imitates a flatfish. Sea snake – If under attack, a mimic octopus may hide completely in a hole except for two of its legs, which it sticks out in opposite directions. When the octopus changes its color and shapes its eight legs to look like spines, it may be perceived by a potential predator as a venomous creature that should be avoided. Lion fish – a venomous fish with brown and white stripes, and spines that trail behind it on all sides. Some of the more common animals the mimic octopus imitates are the following: This information adds to the likelihood that the octopus's shape-changing improves survival. It is not known how many animals the mimic octopus can imitate, but it is known that most of the animals that it mimics are poisonous. Certain flies have the black and yellow stripes of a bee, which discourages potential predators, but the mimic octopus is the first known species to mimic more than one other species, and the first of its kind to possess the ability of mimicry. Mimicry is a common survival strategy in nature. ![]() The mimic octopus’s strategy is quite impressive. As it is able to impersonate poisonous fish, it is at less risk of predation than others in the open. It also prefers river mouths and estuaries, as opposed to reefs which are usually preferred as shelter by other types of octopus. It also uses aggressive mimicry to approach wary prey, for example mimicking a crab as an apparent mate, only to devour its deceived suitor. The mimic octopus uses a jet of water through its funnel to glide over the sand while searching for prey, typically small fish, crabs, and worms, protected by its apparently Batesian mimicry of aposematic animals. ![]()
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