You may recall that tantalizing photo of an octopus eating a seagull that I posted last month: now the whole series and the story behind them is online.
Death from below
Pharyngula
Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal
What were the odds that the bird would be gulled?
Glen Davidson
Is this a menu thing now? Seagull-stuffed octopus? Soctopus, like turducken? Why the hell is turducken in my autocorrect list?
Turducken?
Ken Ham stuffed into a duck, stuffed into a turd?
I know, gross right?
Apparently it’s some sort of a thing, though.
The only things Ken Ham likes to be stuff in are piglets.
Fantastic shots. I will forever be jealous.
I’ve walked that breakwater. Must keep my eyes peeled next time.
Eww.
So… would the octopus eat the gull whole? Feathers and all? or just peck away at the bird with its little beak?
Either way it must be a good catch for the octopus (lots of protein) until the all the other opportunists show up.
I think it’s a juvenile. Fledged and flying, but not yet mature. I don’t know about every species of gull, but the three that live around here have more brown on their wings when they are young. Adults have almost pure white wings.
So maybe this was a youngster. Maybe most seagulls figure out how to not get eaten by an octopus as they grow up.
Alas, I had hoped that this was actually a gull evolving into an octopus in front of a camera. Next you’ll be telling us there is no crocoduck either.
“To commemorate witnessing and photographing this amazing event, Ginger, Ken and Lou went out for a calamari lunch.”
It’s nice to read a story that has a happy ending.
Thanks for posting this, PZ. I enjoyed the first round, and was hoping for follow-up. :)