Friday Cephalopod: Patrician
Category: Cephalopods • Organisms
Posted on: September 26, 2008 12:57 PM, by PZ Myers
Octopus kagoshimensis
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
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Octopus kagoshimensis
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Life Science
Comments
Posted by: Sili | September 26, 2008 1:20 PM
Awesome. Like a wise old sage.
Two down, one to go. (Make it good - Well, gooder.)
Posted by: Johnny Vector | September 26, 2008 1:28 PM
Wait a sec. kagoshimensis? As in, found in Kagoshima? I probably ate some of them! Now I'm sad.
Posted by: bigjohn756 | September 26, 2008 1:30 PM
I've been wondering...I assume that an octopus has a "natural" color, but, if it does, what color is it?
Posted by: Trish | September 26, 2008 1:37 PM
Patrician?
Is that it's mouth up there, with that beak like jaw that would clamp down and break my finger?
Posted by: Apsalar | September 26, 2008 1:58 PM
It looks like a Keeper from Babylon 5.
Posted by: ctenotrish | September 26, 2008 2:10 PM
Nice! A cephalopod worthy of my given name. :) Now if there could just be a ctenophore hovering in the background . . . . then my assumed name would be well represented too.
Posted by: Miss Infidel | September 26, 2008 2:15 PM
That octopus looks like he's seen some heartbreak.
Cheer up, little guy.
Posted by: Holbach | September 26, 2008 2:16 PM
"Hey, I'm a little younger than those old rocks just found on Hudson Bay. But unlike those old rocks, I can move around and make an appearance on Pharyngula!"
Posted by: Anders | September 26, 2008 2:23 PM
I like arms...
Posted by: Patricia | September 26, 2008 3:04 PM
It looks perfectly haughty to me.
Posted by: ffrancis | September 26, 2008 3:14 PM
If both "Sleek" and "Patrician" are "Octopus kagoshimensis" as the cutline indicates, how come they look so different? Or is that a really dumb question?
Posted by: Ranson | September 26, 2008 3:23 PM
Doesn't look a thing like Vetinari.
Posted by: Newfie | September 26, 2008 3:41 PM
Them octopuses is smart, but not as smart as bats. Bats is real smart, they use radar.
Posted by: PaulM | September 26, 2008 5:23 PM
I like the way she/he curls up her/his tentacles... it's cute.
Posted by: Ross | September 26, 2008 5:36 PM
Cephalopod close up.
Posted by: scooter | September 26, 2008 5:43 PM
Hey put some lipstick on that thing, she looks vice presidential !!!
Posted by: Sili | September 26, 2008 6:02 PM
Attack of the (green) killer tomatoes!Posted by: Gra | September 26, 2008 6:10 PM
That looks like a Blue Ringed Octopus! Beautiful but deadly...
Posted by: mikespeir | September 26, 2008 6:51 PM
Wow, two this Friday! BTW, what do cephalopods do the rest of the week?
Posted by: Candid Engineer | September 26, 2008 6:55 PM
Awesome picture, maybe I should get a Patrician for my freshwater tank. :)
Posted by: aligai | September 26, 2008 8:29 PM
That guy looks like he's ready to sucker punch someone :)
Posted by: Valor Phoenix | September 27, 2008 1:32 AM
Cuttle Fish @ Wikipedia has a fairly simple explanation of their color changing ability.
As for their 'natural' color/pattern, it's likely decided by their rest states. The two major rest states would likely be swimming and resting/hiding in a favorite patch of ocean floor.
I would guess what is shown in the picture is one of the rest states for that one (the "I'm hanging out here among the pebbles one.")