More like this
Octopus briareus, the Caribbean reef octopus
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
Octopus alpheus
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
Octopus cyanea
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
Octopus micropyrsus
Figure from Cephalopods: A World Guide (amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Mark Norman.
Saw a very impressive cephalopod in the underground aquarium at the Mall of America. Thought of you immediately. Also got to stroke a small shark and a ray. Good fun.
That's a particularly nice-looking cephalopod, PZ.
My inlaws just got back from seeing a large octopus at an aquarium in Seattle (or it could have been Vancouver; frankly, I wasn't paying that much attention). They were saying how gross and scary it was, with all the tentacles and suckers, etc. My sister-in-law even went so far as to delete the picture from her laptop.
Of course, I told them they were crazy and it was a cool and even beautiful creature. They didn't think so.
They are anti-cephalopod heathens. ;-)
In the past, I've had a hard time understanding your fascination with these critters, but I think I'm beginning to see the light. That is one beautiful creature. I guess I'm just a shallow person for being so into "appearances". I am a long-time scuba diver and would love to run into this guy on a dive.
I got _Cephalopods: A World Guide_ for my birthday and am very grateful to you for bringing it to my attention. I LOVE THEM!
Very pretty, but the way those tentacles are coiled would make me very nervous if I were approaching. Is that coloration actually a threat display?
Here's a not-so-giant cephalopod for you : http://www.flickr.com/photos/specklet/211782038/in/set-7215759420482813…