Friday Cephalopod: Red and purple
Category: Cephalopods • Organisms
Posted on: September 26, 2008 6:59 PM, by PZ Myers
Octopus mimus
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
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Octopus mimus
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Comments
Posted by: Jared | September 26, 2008 7:21 PM
Now for the "Cthulhu fhtagn" and tentacle lashings...
Posted by: Patricia | September 26, 2008 7:32 PM
What the hell is that tube thingy? Is this cephalopod naughty bits?
Posted by: razib | September 26, 2008 7:34 PM
third!!!
Posted by: Jared | September 26, 2008 7:35 PM
It's the siphon
Posted by: Danio | September 26, 2008 7:36 PM
Suppose she's a member of the Red Hat Society?
Posted by: Jared | September 26, 2008 7:42 PM
Oh, Patricia, the "naughty bits" of a male cephalopods is called a hectocotylus. If you'd like to see what it looks like, google image search it. ;)
Posted by: Patricia | September 26, 2008 7:50 PM
No thank you Jared. I'll take your word for it. I still haven't recovered from that hideous dissection PZ posted months ago. *cringe*
I do think I like the Patrician most out of the three. It has the proper 'patattude'.
Posted by: Nentuaby | September 26, 2008 7:51 PM
Actually, one of the arms is co-opted as naughty bits. Sometimes, it's very heavily modifies, but in a lot of species you'd have to be a scientist to tell 'em from the other seven.
Think on that for a bit. >:-)
Posted by: bigjohn756 | September 26, 2008 7:51 PM
What a beauty!
Posted by: Jared | September 26, 2008 8:09 PM
Nentuaby, yummy fried cephalopod penis!
Posted by: Hans | September 26, 2008 8:17 PM
It's Groucho Marx reincarnated in a cephalopod! Doesn't anyone here know a cigar when they see one?
Posted by: sara | September 26, 2008 8:24 PM
The red and purple, I can see for myself, but I wish that you would write more about their chromatophores. Is there a comprehensive (online, maybe) resource on colouration of cephalopoda that could be recommended?
Posted by: Moses | September 26, 2008 9:50 PM
I wish we could get this octopus to eat the Presidential debate...
Posted by: Kate | September 26, 2008 9:50 PM
Oh... Wow.
Wow. Is it just me, or do others imagine that "hover car" sound when looking at cephalopod pictures? They just look like they're somehow... technologically advanced hover creatures. (?)
This one, in particular, is absolutely amazing.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek OM | September 26, 2008 9:53 PM
I don't trust anything that veiny- just ask Mr Shrek.
Posted by: synapse | September 26, 2008 11:06 PM
cute animation, involving octopi: http://www.mytoons.com/animation/play/18681
Posted by: Enshoku | September 26, 2008 11:34 PM
They look so smart and dignified. The fact that these things would later be the ancestors of creationists disproves evolution. If evilution dos exits then y did the creatards get stoopider over time?
Posted by: sara | September 26, 2008 11:52 PM
To Bride of Shrek (No. 15), you should not advertise that. Plenty of women appreciate a well-vascularised organ!
Posted by: Patricia | September 26, 2008 11:56 PM
Uggh! Jared.
In the county that serves Mt. Oysters at Miss Piggies Grill, we don't fry penis's.
Get a grip man, that just ain't fittin. Even served with grits, you go too far.
20 ducats deducted from your bar tab.
Posted by: Patricia | September 27, 2008 12:13 AM
Ahhh, here we go. "Descending into a cascade of obscenities" to quote good ol' Beltane Brenda von Something.
Red, purple, veiny, and well-vascularized organs get dragged into the discussion.
Every gent here is going to swear he sports one the size of...wait for it... a Peterbilt!
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | September 27, 2008 12:56 AM
OT but right about now Adam and Jamie are talking like pirates and shooting cannons.
Avast, me hearty swabs! Thar be Discovery!
Posted by: Patricia | September 27, 2008 1:16 AM
I saw on some version of google news that Johnny Depp has signed on for a Pirates 4. It had better be damn well better than the last pile of tripe!
I want to see more wooing of strumpets, more sluts, and certainly more corsets in Singapore.
The Tentacled Overlord Davy Jones is good, but get him right in the right scenes!
Hell's bells is Disney so damned stoopid that they can't know about Granuaile the Irish pirate queen? Sheesh!
Posted by: Patricia | September 27, 2008 1:48 AM
Good night ye intemperate Ilk. Ye sultry sluts, and veiny voluptuous, venous, volumptrotudenous vipers.
(that last bit hurt)
Posted by: Enshoku | September 27, 2008 2:13 AM
Wait, am I a sultry slut? If not, can I have one or two(or a dozen)?
Posted by: Sauceress | September 27, 2008 3:18 AM
#17 Enshoku
My guess is inbreeding within populations. (i.e.churches)
I sure like the dress that calamari is wearing.
Posted by: Jared | September 27, 2008 3:30 AM
Patricia @23; how dare you compare humans to vipers! One is a vicious, aggressive, and repulsive animal, and the other is a family of Squamata
Posted by: Brulotte | September 27, 2008 4:01 AM
This one is gorgeous
Posted by: Sili | September 27, 2008 8:24 AM
The reference to red hats (I once met a chemist with a red bowler, by the way) made me think he looks like a cardinal.
Yeah, sorry, but "nothing is sacred".
Posted by: James | September 27, 2008 6:37 PM
Again I say it: this is a lovely cephalopod, but where are all the cuttlefish? I'm calling the NAACF.
Posted by: amphiox | September 27, 2008 7:52 PM
#17:
The environment shifted. Obnoxiousness became of greater survival value than intelligence. The first trait was selected for, the second against.
Posted by: Chuck | September 27, 2008 8:45 PM
Excellent Dodos reference, PZ, if it was intentional.
Posted by: Bert Chadick | September 28, 2008 2:07 AM
Does anyone know how big this cutie is?
Posted by: Patricia | September 28, 2008 4:06 PM
Enshoku - Of course you can be a sultry slut. All manner of sluts are welcome!
My reference to vipers was meant as admiration for their well known tempers. :o)