Pharyngula::Cirrate octopus

Pharyngula has moved to http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Cirrate octopus

PZ Myers • 13 Comments

Stauroteuthis syrtensis

Apostropher is correct: this is a great octopus photo.

The 30 cm octopus was a vivid reddish-orange color, had a membranous web of skin between its tentacles and possessed two small flipper fins just behind the eyes (hence the common name of dumbo octopus). This animal is one of only two octopus species in the world that are known to bioluminesce. The suckers along the arms have evolved into light-emitting organs that glow blue-green in the perpetual darkness of its habitat.

Trackback url: http://pharyngula.org/index/trackback/2635/doJHR592/

Comments:

#32887: — 07/26 at 11:44 AM
Lovely skirt. I'm seeing a media career for it, eg in a Disney Fantasia movie. If that fails it might end up as a lampshade ... :-O

#32890: John M. Price — 07/26 at 01:03 PM
Now my new background!

Much to the dismay of other office folk....

#32891: — 07/26 at 01:06 PM
I want one!

#32896: GrrlScientist — 07/26 at 04:00 PM
I wonder how they got that picture? And where? And how deep (if it was taken in the wild, as it appears to be)?

GrrlScientist

#32897: — 07/26 at 04:10 PM
How (closely) are octopi related to jellyfish?

#32898: PZ Myers — 07/26 at 04:12 PM
About as closely as we are.

PZ Myers
Division of Science and Math
University of Minnesota, Morris

#32900: — 07/26 at 04:26 PM

Now my new background!

Ditto!

Her tentacles are exceptionally bizarreautiful.

Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

-Jerry Garcia

#32901: — 07/26 at 04:29 PM
By the way, I'd like to (humbly) call attention to Jerry's words below, as they pertain quite well to deep-sea fishing and the wonderous rewards it has brought us... such as this lovely and proud creature!

Once in a while you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look at it right.

-Jerry Garcia

#32905: — 07/26 at 05:07 PM
Thanks PZ. I appreicate your patience with a biology dabbler. I love to see how evolution has provided such a rich set of forms through independent paths.

It is such a shame that some creationists (those literally stuck in the literal mud) are missing such exciting times in science. Evolution is such a elegant process that - with enormous time - creates such a beautiful display.

Trackback: Voluptuously Veiled Tracked on: PhaWRONGula (72.9.234.70) at 2005 07 26 20:13:33
They're luminous, leggy and lissome, In diaphanous drag. Don't dismiss 'em. You see, I'm a sucker...

#32913: coturnix — 07/26 at 08:22 PM
Yup, it is my background now, too. Kids just LOVE it!

#32915: — 07/27 at 07:18 AM
So what are the little tentacles branching off the main ones, stingers? Greatly mutated suckers?

#32918: apostropher — 07/27 at 07:42 AM
You can find some pretty cool video of these guys here.

#32962: — 07/27 at 12:53 PM
Hail spawn of Cthulhu.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Next entry: Nancy Levant, professional crazy lady

Previous entry: Grand Rounds #44: What do medbloggers do?

<< Back to main

Pharyngula has moved to http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

Cirrate octopus

Info