8/27/2023 0 Comments Blanket octopus predatorsIf this does not work they can actually detach their sheets and hopefully fool predators long enough to make their escape. When confronted by predators the octopuses will stretch out their arms created a large silhouette designed to trick predators into thinking they are much larger than they really are. The first is their ‘blankets’ or more accurately sheets of webbing that stretch between some of their arms. In order to get to the point where they can reproduce blanket octopuses must survive against harsh odds using an array of defensive tactics. It shows us just how important passing on their own genes to the next generation is to them that they are literally willing to die to do it.ĭefensive tactics A female extends her webbed sheets in an attempt to intimidate predators Males will die almost immediately after mating after losing one of its arms and a significant amount of energy and a similar fate awaits the females after they have laid their eggs and fertilized them. But for blanket octopuses, like most other cephalopods, it is also deadly. This is truly one of the most bizarre but equally fascinating forms of reproduction anywhere in nature. When she has made up her mind she will lay up to 100,000 eggs and then release the sperm from the male’s hectocotylus over them. A female will be able to do this with multiple males and store all of their arms before deciding on which one to use. She will then keep it stored in her mantle cavity until she is ready to lay her eggs. When they do find one another the male transfers its sperm via a specialised arm, called a hectocotylus, which he will actually detach from himself and give to the female. It is not entirely known why the difference is so large but it is likely that males spend all their time and energy on locating females across large distances instead of investing in costly growth. The females, like those featured in the video above, will grow to six feet long whereas the males will only grow to a max length of less than an inch! This is what is known as sexual dimorphism and blanket octopuses are one of the best examples of it with the females weighing in at over 40,000 times heavier than their male counterparts. However reproduction is much more complicated than just colouration for these cephalopods. One theory is that it is to attract mates. It is not entirely known why blanket octopuses are so vibrantly rainbow coloured. The footage captured by a diver in the Philippines was released earlier this week and shows two female octopuses they found. The video of the blanket octopus has captured the attention of people from around the world. Check out these incredible invertebrates for yourself and find out why there is so much more too them than meets the eye. ![]() ![]() They also boast some impressive defensive traits that let them go toe to toe with some of the most dangerous creatures of the deep. ![]() They make intriguing couples due to the difference in size between the males and females, which is one of the largest in the animal kingdom. ![]() But it is not just their ‘technicolour dreamcoat’ that will leave you in awe of the blanket octopus. Commonly referred to as the blanket octopus, after the long sheets of webbing that stretch between some of their arms, this new video also highlights why some prefer the name rainbow octopus. The blanket octopus is often referred to as the ‘rainbow’ octopusĪn up-close look at one of the most beautiful and elusive cephalopods around has everyone in awe of their amazing appearance. But there is a lot more to these amazing animals than meets the eyes. Rare footage of a blanket octopus in the Philippines has captivated marine enthusiasts with an incredible array of colours.
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