Friday Cephalopod: a luminous parasol?

i-90065519e8f9b9eb523d8509a83a7fd7-glowing_sucker_octopus.jpg
Glowing sucker octopus

Figure from The Deep(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Claire Nouvian.

More like this

Deep sea squid, unidentified species Figure from The Deep(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Claire Nouvian.
Histioteuthis heteropsis Figure from The Deep(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Claire Nouvian.
Stauroteuthis syrtensis Figure from The Deep(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Claire Nouvian.
Helicocranchia sp. Figure from The Deep(amzn/b&n/abe/pwll), by Claire Nouvian.

Its beak is very well hidden in that shot - despite the wide backwards spread of the tentacle-arms. :-/

Totally OT, but your favorite playground bully, Michael Korn, is back updating his blog. Looks like he's sliding from science denial into Holocaust denial and working his way to justification of becoming a suicide bomber. I won't put a link directly to his insanity on your blog, but here's one from mine. Since he's already "accused" you of being Jewish and is now explaining why the Jews/Scientists need to be exterminated, I think you ought to have a look...

Is that a photo? It looks like a painting (which might explain the "missing" beak).

PZ: Out of curiosity, why study zebrafishes when you could do cephalopods? Would it be too difficult to do evo-devo with them?

By other bill (not verified) on 07 Sep 2007 #permalink

why study zebrafishes when you could do cephalopods?

Cephalopods are very difficult to keep and breed, with a relatively long generation time. The opposite is true of zebrafish. Researchers generally like to have a decent chance of completing some research.

This is a truly beautiful cephalopod. After cutting it up, I would drop it in a hot wok with ginger and garlic, add a touch of soy and sugar, a few dried hot chilis, and drizzle with sesame oil. MMM>.

I have put The Deep on my wish list, but who knows if I'll break down and buy it for myself long before the holidays. (Either that, or that coffeetable book about show chickens...)

By Melissa G (not verified) on 07 Sep 2007 #permalink

No human (that is, "intelligently-designed" har har) parasol approaches the delicate elegance and graceful beauty of this stunningly gorgeous creature...

What's more, no parasol-maker has ever managed to evolve an example that moves autonomously, metabolizes, and reproduces itself.

By Arnosium Upinarum (not verified) on 07 Sep 2007 #permalink

SEF: Thanks. Human epidemiology studies have that problem. I started off doing the year 20 and 25 mortality studies on a long term mortality studies. The initial PI's have since retired and, in some cases, passed away.

By other bill (not verified) on 08 Sep 2007 #permalink