Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
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The figures looked more or less human. And they were engaged in religion. You could tell by the knives (it's not murder if you do it for a god).
(Terry Pratchett, Small Gods)
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Category: Cephalopods
Posted on: March 8, 2007 6:00 AM, by PZ Myers
Despite being in Japanese, you'll be able to figure out what's going on: this Tremoctopus, when threatened, unfurls a membranous webbing and swims away, trailing it behind like a cape to distract predators.
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Comments
Posted by: MorpheusPA | March 8, 2007 7:04 AM
Is it just me, or does that 'pus look a bit like the Dementors from Harry Potter? Minus the threat and plus a great deal of beauty and grace.
Thanks for that--I needed a smile this morning!
Morph
Posted by: Peter McGrath | March 8, 2007 8:10 AM
I remember from my 20 year old degree that size has something to do with prey/food selection: some things aren't worth the energy expended to catch and eat, some are. Beyond that, does a predator's perception of prey size and its own safety come into the equation? That octopus suddenly looked a lot bigger, possibly going from the 'nice meal' to 'get my ass kicked if I tackle that' catagory.
Posted by: Paul | March 8, 2007 8:57 AM
I can't believe you didn't mention this PZ! I'm still waiting for the godless coins, I want one but don't have the money to put forward:
ATHEIST AMERICAN COINAGE!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070307/ap_on_fe_st/godless_dollars;_ylt=As5T1hTFOHGJpMSRy2jc9WgDW7oF
Posted by: DaveX | March 8, 2007 9:25 AM
That's really very beaautiful. And for Paul, the "atheist coin guy," did you notice the story next to it at Yahoo? Apparently, some farmer's cow has been eating his chickens! How's that for weird? So much for intelligent design!
Posted by: ladyvonkulp | March 8, 2007 9:30 AM
The coins were settling down for about $50 on ebay, is that still too steep?
Posted by: Miguel Garcia-Blanco | March 8, 2007 9:51 AM
If my Japanese is correct, the octopus not only trails the "cloak" behind but it also detaches it like a lizard tail (and regrows it), leaving it to stick to the face of the chasing shark.
Posted by: Paul | March 8, 2007 10:23 AM
By the way, I just thought that I'd apologize for messing up the page so badly.
Next, in response to ladyvonkulp, sadly, $50 is out of my price range. My only fleeting hope is to find one, which is extremely doubtful. These atheists coins will hopefully be a forebearer of much kinder times in the future.
Posted by: Steve_C | March 8, 2007 10:33 AM
Extremely cool. Never knew anything about that octopus.
Posted by: Stanton | March 8, 2007 10:50 AM
I thought Trematoctopus held pieces of Portugeuse Man'o'war tentacles in its arm.
Posted by: Dave | March 8, 2007 11:29 AM
I'm sure that's the weirdest thing I'll see all day.
Posted by: garth | March 8, 2007 12:17 PM
i like weird things throughout the day, thank you internetz!
the coin thing is funky. the stupid motto (in gord we trust, not e. pluribus unum) is on the edge right? grind it off. viola.
Posted by: bonnie-ann black | March 8, 2007 1:53 PM
that is one of the coolest things i've *ever* seen. i love octopi and squid! ticked me off royally when that collasal squid was killed -- and it's still on ice! i would much rather have seen films of it in motion. *sigh*
Posted by: Peter McGrath | March 8, 2007 3:01 PM
DaveX: Apparently, some farmer's cow has been eating his chickens!
Put Effectmeasure and Aetiology on notice: here comes Mad Bird Cow Flu.
Posted by: horrobin | March 8, 2007 3:07 PM
Beautiful footage, but have you noticed that Japanese tv shows love showing people's expressions of stunned wonderment? I was watching a cooking show the other day and it was a solid ten minutes of studio audience gasps and exclamations.
"Now I'll add some fish sauce..."
AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
"And a little beef reduction..."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Ichthyic | March 8, 2007 3:40 PM
Mad Bird Cow Flu
LOL.
Posted by: Will Von Wizzlepig | March 8, 2007 4:53 PM
It's funny to see that seven years after coming back from Japan they still have the same array of people on these 'listen to us talk about stuff' shows.
True about the cooking shows, too- I am certain that there is a significant piece of culture there surrounding food that we almost completely lack. We don't have cooking shows the way they do, although, we're catching on.
Posted by: TWB | March 8, 2007 7:29 PM
Take a look at the comparison between this display and the C-310 's Angel Decoy. Quite the resemblance!
Posted by: dingle-dangle | March 8, 2007 8:21 PM
"Despite being in Japanese, you'll be able..." --but I'm not in Japanese!
Posted by: zayzayem | March 8, 2007 9:40 PM
If I recognize the format, this is from an Animal Quiz show. Where as well as being "listen to us talk about stuff" - I love that description, at least half of Japanesee TV is eating + LTUTAS - also has teh contestants guess what is going to happen in a certain situation.
These guys were probably asked, what exactly does this purple octopus do/about to do (one of the opening lines of this clip - it mentions its going to expel something, but what?). The Talento/Celebs write it down, and if they have time, draw a small picture to illustrate it, or even act it out. Hilarity and amusement ensues.
Nobody wins anything (just honour). That's how Japanese quiz shows work (it's like Whose Line...?)