Sneaky Sea Life Seen by Researchers

[Guest guest]

(saw this a week or two ago on News)

 

Octopuses Observed Avoiding Predators

 

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer

 

WASHINGTON - Octopuses, known for using camouflage to avoid

predators, have been observed apparently trying to sneak away by

walking on two arms while pretending to be a bunch of algae. Two

kinds of octopus were seen to use different ways of walking along the

sea floor, researchers were reporting in Friday's issue of the

journal Science.

 

The movements were discovered by Christine L. Huffard of the

University of California, Berkeley, who was studying underwater video

camera tapes of the animals.

 

Berkeley professor Robert J. Full said Huffard was studying octopus

movement as part of a robotics project. He said the researchers use

examples from nature in designing robots; one project is to build a

soft robot.

 

Octopuses trying to avoid being eaten usually hold still to

camouflage themselves. But by walking on two arms, these two types

were able to move quickly while using their other arms to disguise

themselves.

 

Two individuals of O. marginatus from Indonesia wrapped six arms

around themselves, looking like a coconut on the sea floor. They ten

used the two rear arms to move backward.

 

In Australia, O. aculeatus was seen raising two arms above its head

before lifting four more and moving backward on the two remaining

arms. The researchers described it as looking like " a clump of algae

tiptoeing away. "

 

The researchers believe the octopuses were trying to flee from

predators, though they cannot be sure until they have seen more

examples of the behavior.

 

The research was funded by the American Malacological Society and the

National Science Foundation (news - web sites).