Octopus

By Ruben Barraza

http://all-that-is-interesting.com/the-cool-coconut-octopus

Octopus Octopuses have always caught my interest and have been one

of my favorite marine organisms. I find them interesting because

of the unique traits they have, including their tentacles and ink. I

was also surprised with how smart they are and how it is almost

impossible to have them as a pet because they tend to break out

of their tanks. In general I felt that this project helped me gain a

better understanding of octopuses and answered a lot of

questions I had !

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-

8hb8hC2VEQc/TpPQo9p0YlI/AAAAAAAAA-

4/GpAzXc1qozQ/s1600/UrsulaKHII.jpg

http://www.rankopedia.com/CandidatePix/5067.gif

Spiderman DR. Octopus Little Mermaid Ursula

Water Planet Octopuses are without a doubt Heterotrophs because they can not make their

own food.

They evolved about 408-360 Million years ago in the Devonian period.

Their are a lot of different kinds of octopus and they can be found anywhere from

tidal zones on shore to the very deepest oceans. They usually reside in

temperate waters and the tropics or in the muddy bottoms of shallow areas

usually in warm waters. However, they can live in all oceans of the world at all

depths.

http://www.tonmo.com/community/pages/fossil-octopuses/

Plate Tectonics

The Octopus is not affected by plate tectonics.

Instead, they benefit from it. What ends up happening

is Plate tectonics causes hydro thermal vents that

produces hydrogen sulfide. This leads to

chemosynthetic bacteria using hydrogen sulfide as a

source of energy instead of sunlight. The bacteria is

then fed on by giant clams, mussels, polychaete

worms and other invertebrates which then provide a

great meal for the octopus. http://timelinecovers.me/thumbnail/8/828.jpg

Seafloor Sediments Octopuses can live in a variety of range of depths. We have some that live in

tidal zones which is not deep at all, and some live in depths of 7000m like the

Dumbo octopus.

Octopuses habitats consist of living in rocks, corals, or burrows and since they

are invertebrates they can squeeze through tiny passageways giving them a

bigger variety of possible homes.Their homes provide them with protection and a

place for the females eggs.

Octopuses like to be left alone and have minimal organism interactions but they

can occupy spaces within tide pools or deep sea environments with certain

animals such as jellyfish,crabs, and other fish.

http://www.octopusworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/habitat_octopus_624.jpg

Sea Water For a better understanding on what water quality is necessary for an octopus I had to

do some information on understanding the pH levels and salinity levels suitable for an

octopus in an aquarium.

The requirements differ on different species but are usually around a pH of 8.0 and

making sure low levels of ammonia and nitrates around 5ppm in nitrate and phosphate

below 0.1.

The salinity should be at 1.025 and the temperature should be around 16-25°C the

octopus is not as delicate as this seems but these would be the perfect requirements

for healthy living standards.

As far as water clarity it needs a good share of darkness and light for a suitable living.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lyon-aquarium-female-octopus-care-eggs.jpg

Here is a perfect picture of

what an octopus needs for

a proper environment it

shows light on the surface

but rocks and corals

towards the bottom to be

able to hide and have

darkness

Atmosphere and Seasons Atmospheric Conditions

They play an important part in an octopuses life due to the fact they can

not live in too cold or hot water which leads to migration for a suitable

climate

The other atmospheric concern is ocean acidification which can weaken

shells of some of their favorite prey this could have a big impact on

octopus food availability which may lead to a big feast at first but with

shelled organisms declining the octopus could be soon to follow.

Season Variations

Females octopus have a prolonged spawning season (from February to

September) with a peak between March and July while the males are

mature all the year round.

Currents and Waves

Current Variation

Most octopus are usually bottom dweller but some species will use the

currents along the bottom of the seabed to move from place to place.

Some species like the Giant Pacific octopus have their hatchings use

the currents by drifting in them for several months before dropping to

the sea floor.

Wave Conditions

an octopus can withstand are very flexible and sometimes even go into

wave washed intertidal rocks to feast on crabs for survival.

Tides, Coasts Tides seem to play an important role for octopus some use the tides to hide from predators

and to feed while others spend most of their time in the deep ocean.

A great example would be the two spotted octopus which hangs out in the low tide zones

and has adapted to the minimum amount of water at times.

The two spotted octopus can store water within his body in the mantle cavity where is passes

through its gills for survival, It can also swim away from predators if in trouble by using jet

propulsion by blowing water out is its siphon which is located under the mantle this gives

them a speedy get away

Octopus can live in shallow waters and also in the deep ocean some can live at depths of

23000 ft like the dumbo octopus.

http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/images/olc/grimpo-2_med.jpg

Dumbo octopus in deep ocean Octopus living in shallow waters

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_a3StuTW8waQ/TKtHrjzUY4I/AAAAAAAAAzk/WkGrzKqL6Wc/s1600/octopus+007.jpg

Scientific Classification Taxonomic Classification:

Kingdom: Animilia

Phylum: Mollusca

Subphylum: Cephalopoda

Scientific Name:

Octopoda

Close Relations:

Cuttlefish, squid

Location Classification:

Nektobenthos

Marine Organism Octopus feed on Crabs,

Lobsters, Clams, Snails,

Small fish, Other octopus,

and a variety of other

species

Octopus tend to catch their

prey by camouflaging in an

environment and grabbing

their prey with their tentacles

Most octopus bite their prey

with their beak that injects

paralyzing saliva

http://previewcf.turbosquid.com/Preview/2014/05/16__02_52_21/Octopus-008.jpgb4c819c0-2cff-4b1d-9843-

8f467e9667c6Large.jpg

This picture shows where the beak is located on an

octopus

Predators

Adult octopus main predators

are eels and sharks.

Octopus at larval stage main

predators are plankton eaters

such as big fish and whales

Other animals eat octopus such

as harbor seals, sea otters as

well as humans

http://www.factzoo.com/sites/all/img/mammals/mustelid/sea-otter-eating.jpg

Sea otter eating an octopus

Seal eating an

octopus

Special Traits

An octopus can camouflage into its

environment and can also lose a limb by

using it to distract its predator and then

regrow a new limb

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PsOEHgiFRbM/UMEfqvd0kXI/AAAAAAAAAJc/sOIP1kvpvIQ/s640/amazing.jpg

Octopus has the ability to be able to shoot

out ink to confuse its predator and distract

them as well

An octopus has the ability to squeeze

into very small cracks in the ocean and

some tend to have paralyzing saliva

http://discoveryphoto.com/octopus_ink.jpg

Reproduce The octopus has a hectocotylus which is

basically an arm covered in rows of

sperm.

Some octopus species mate by inverting

the arm directly into the female octopus

oviduct while other species detach the

arm and give it to the female to use

when she is ready to fertilize the eggs.

Male octopuses die after a few months

after mating and females die shortly

after their eggs hatch.

The female octopus guards her eggs

until they hatch and stops looking for

food to be on full alert. Female octopus

also blow on their eggs whenever they

get dirty.

It can take anywhere from 2-10 months

for the eggs to incubate depending on

species and temperature.

http://www.mbari.org/news/homepage/2008/octomate-350.jpg

A picture of two octopus demonstrating how they reproduce

Octopus protecting her eggs

http://37.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll039dynZi1qzgq9eo1_500.jpg

Pollution/Human Interactions

The negative human affect towards octopus would have to be

the fact that we consume octopus in many different countries

which shortens the population.

The positive outcomes that the octopus bring to humans would

be that we are still learning a lot about them which catches the

attention of many people and how truly smart an octopus really

is.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/8/9/1344523951483/Japanese-fisherman-unload-008.jpg

A picture of humans catching octopus

References

• Fossil Octopuses .TONMO.com: The Octopus News Magazine Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.tonmo.com/community/pages/fossil-octopuses/>.

• Common octopus . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/common-octopus/?rptregcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_r1p_us_se_w#>.

• National Aquarium | Giant Pacific Octopus. National Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.aqua.org/explore/animals/giant-pacific-octopus>.

• Ten Curious Facts About Octopuses. Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/ten-curious-facts-about-octopuses-7625828/?no-ist>.

• "Octopus & Squid Marine Biology." Diving Sabah Dive Downbelow. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.divedownbelow.com/marine-biology/octopus-and-squid-marine-biology/>.

• "The Cool Coconut Octopus." All That Is Interesting. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://all-that-is-interesting.com/the-cool-coconut-octopus>.

• "Vent Communities." Vent Communities. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.indiana.edu/~g105lab/images/gaia_chapter_13/vent_communities.htm>.

• "Habitat - Octopus." Habitat - Octopus. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://justinlp6.weebly.com/habitat.html>.

• "Aquarium Invertebrates: Housing An Octopus." — Advanced Aquarist. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/7/inverts>.

• "8 Awesome Octopus Facts for World Oceans Day | Octopus Chronicles, Scientific American Blog Network." Scientific American Global RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/octopus-chronicles/2013/06/08/8-awesome-octopus-facts-for-world-oceans-day/>.

• "Biological environment Article." . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.faomedsudmed.org/pdf/publications/td2/td2_%20ezzeddine.pdf>.

• "WHAT EATS AN OCTOPUS?." WHAT EATS RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.whateats.com/what-eats-an-octopus>.

• "Scientific classification." . N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/akkala_thom/Sub-page%20Classification.htm>.

• "Animals." Giant pacific octopus. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.neaq.org/animals_and_exhibits/animals/giant_pacific_octopus/>.

• "Octopus." Google Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://books.google.com/books?id=m-Mv7awvtIQC&pg=PP38&lpg=PP38&dq=can+octopus+survive+in+waves&source=bl&ots=mG1Y16247O&sig=0sSsZxcvPbavzfOozPIgAIn_G7I&hl=en&sa=X&ei=bCyFU_7uCdKDqgat4oCoDA&ved=0CHoQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=wave&f=false>.

• "Aquarium of the Pacific." Aquarium of the Pacific. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/dumbo_octopus>.

• "Common Octopus." Common Octopus. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.visitsealife.com/explore-our-creatures/common-octopus.aspx>.

• "Low-Tide Zone." Rocky Shore 13 -. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://rockyshore13.wikispaces.com/Low-Tide+Zone>.

• "How do octopuses reproduce? - Curiosity." Curiosity. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-do-octopuses-reproduce>.