keigo70
Registered
Just thought I'd share a couple of videos (not mine!) showcasing the incredible camouflage abilities of cephalopods (cuttlefish, octopus, and squid).
While most animals maintain an unchanging body pattern and coloration (think a praying mantis on a leaf), or else a slow-transition color-change ability (think chameleons), cephalopods exhibit what is called "adaptive camouflage". This is the ability to quickly alter their coloration, body pattern, and even texture to best blend in with their surroundings.
The first video below demonstrates not just the incredible degree by which these creatures can blend in (really, would you have known an octopus was in the video if not for the title?), but also how rapidly they can change color! The last part of the video, which rewinds the original footage, is pretty cool too, as the octopus seems to vanish onto the algae-covered rock once more.
The second video highlights the ability of cuttlefish to alter their skin's texture by way of papillae expression. The close-up shots of the papillae extending and retracting from the skin are amazing.
Both these videos were filmed by marine scientist Roger Hanlon, who does a lot of research on cephalopod camouflage.
While most animals maintain an unchanging body pattern and coloration (think a praying mantis on a leaf), or else a slow-transition color-change ability (think chameleons), cephalopods exhibit what is called "adaptive camouflage". This is the ability to quickly alter their coloration, body pattern, and even texture to best blend in with their surroundings.
The first video below demonstrates not just the incredible degree by which these creatures can blend in (really, would you have known an octopus was in the video if not for the title?), but also how rapidly they can change color! The last part of the video, which rewinds the original footage, is pretty cool too, as the octopus seems to vanish onto the algae-covered rock once more.
The second video highlights the ability of cuttlefish to alter their skin's texture by way of papillae expression. The close-up shots of the papillae extending and retracting from the skin are amazing.
Both these videos were filmed by marine scientist Roger Hanlon, who does a lot of research on cephalopod camouflage.
