Octopus Lovers

[xyrandomyx]

I'm only aware of two species in Cape Town: the Common Octopus (octopus vulgaris), which I believe you can find all over the Atlantic and Mediterranean; and the Brush-tipped Octopus (aphrodoctus schultzi), which is rare and endemic to South Africa. The one in that video is a Common Octopus. They get pretty big, arms up to a metre/ three feet long, but not nearly as large as GPOs. I've only seen a few (I'm terrible at spotting them when they're hiding); all of those have been a reddish-brown colour, but the colour varies (and they can change colour).

I'm not sure what species you might've seen in Pemba. I don't have any decent reference books for the western Indian Ocean, just a few fish ID slates. The only octopus on there is the White Spotted Octopus (octopus cyanea), but that doesn't seem to fit the bill: they're a bit smaller than the common octopus.

 

[Roko]

Man, I am late to the party! Here's a small GPO from Howe Sound a few weeks ago....



The funny thing about that guy was that I saw his mantle and eyes peeking out at us from under a rock from a few meters away... I wish I got a photo of that, it was priceless.

I'll upload more when I'm home...

 

[Matt S.]

Now that I finally figured out how to post my video...
[video=youtube_share;1HVBDZFVgWQ]http://youtu.be/1HVBDZFVgWQ[/video]

Nice find!

I'm guessing you were using a video light? The green fades in as you get farther from the camera.

 

[Allison Finch]

OOOOOOH!!

My favorite critters!


Some mimic photos







Wonderpus








A blue ring octo

 

[Allison Finch]

Marginatus is my favorite octo


I found one lurking....

I offered it a shell I thought was nice. He decided to try it on for size

Hmmm...it fits pretty well

BACK OFF! This is my shell now!

I grabbing this and running!! An octo "mobile home"

I'm going to hide under it. I am going to peek out to see if she is still there......DANG!! She is!!

I'll post more of my cephs later!

 

[Scuba_Jenny]

Allison, fun shots!!!

here's another one of an octopus trying to take my camera!

 

[Allison Finch]

Baby marginatus living in a beer bottle. One man's trash is another critter's condo.

This marginatus was looking for love....

HEY! That sure is a cutie! I want some of that!

Wham Bam, thank you ma'am.........

Ahhhhh...........
Anyone have a cigarette?

 

[Tjack]

Allison, I dig the photo sequence with narration. The Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) sounds like a real character, bipedal walking?

Amphioctopus marginatus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[fishb0y]

Nice find!

I'm guessing you were using a video light? The green fades in as you get farther from the camera.

Thanks, I have about 30 minutes of video with these guys. I'm using a gopro with 2 of the new UK video lights.

 

[Allison Finch]

Allison, I dig the photo sequence with narration. The Coconut Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) sounds like a real character, bipedal walking?

Amphioctopus marginatus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I got great video of bipedal walking on my trip to Lembeh. I just need to figure how to get it out of my GoPro and how to post it. Anyone close to Chapel Hill who can walk me through it?