Stunning shot. And it makes very clear the selection pressures for transparency in some cephalopod species! Quite a scary shadow, unless you are something big with sharp teeth.
I don’t comment here much but I read the site almost daily. No offence to the cephalopod lovers out there, but if I saw that when I was underwater I would freak the hell out!! I think it’s something to do with the number of appendages, and the lack of, um… solidity.
littlejohnsays
I realize you’re not a fan of HuffPo, but have you seen the Octopus Crawling on Land yet?
The largest octopus in the world inhabit Puget Sound off the coast of B.C. in Canada. Divers catch them by pulling them over their heads and then letting out some air to blow them to the surface. Harmless animals, no matter the size. Wouldn’t freak me for a minute to see one over my head.
Cuttlefish says
Stunning shot. And it makes very clear the selection pressures for transparency in some cephalopod species! Quite a scary shadow, unless you are something big with sharp teeth.
http://freethoughtblogs.com/cuttlefish/2011/11/10/am-i-making-myself-clear/
Caine, Fleur du Mal says
Magnificent!
Glen Davidson says
Dare you to poke it!
Glen Davidson
Dhorvath, OM says
That settles it, the portal is neither in the sky, nor in the deep, but just above you wherever you may be.
scarina says
Death from above…
vltava says
It’s coming right for us!
chrisstein says
An octopus table.
http://boingboing.net/2011/11/25/octopus-table.html
Now if PZ had been good old St Nick might have brought one for him. Instead he will get a lump of coal. Shame on him.
Thor says
I don’t comment here much but I read the site almost daily. No offence to the cephalopod lovers out there, but if I saw that when I was underwater I would freak the hell out!! I think it’s something to do with the number of appendages, and the lack of, um… solidity.
littlejohn says
I realize you’re not a fan of HuffPo, but have you seen the Octopus Crawling on Land yet?
Lee Phelan says
Beautiful shot. Has everyone read the Orion Magazine article(s) discussing the intelligence evidencing behavior of the octopus? http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/6474
Monado says
PZ posted on the damp octopus slurping around on the seaweed.
Darwin Harmless says
The largest octopus in the world inhabit Puget Sound off the coast of B.C. in Canada. Divers catch them by pulling them over their heads and then letting out some air to blow them to the surface. Harmless animals, no matter the size. Wouldn’t freak me for a minute to see one over my head.
Sili says
I wanted to say that, scarina.