Transcript Mimic Octopus

By Taylor Kaiser
4th Block
What is a mimic octopus?
 Scientific name:
Thaumoctopus mimicus
 A mimic octopus is a
variety of octopus closely
related to the wonderpus
Where are they found?
 This creature was
discovered in 1998 off
the coast of Sulawesi in
Indonesia on the bottom
of a muddy river mouth.
What is the scientific classification
of the mimic octopus?
 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Molluska
 Class: Cephalopoda
 Order: Octopoda
 Family: Octopodidae
 Genus: Thaumoctopus
 Species: Thaumoctopus mimicus
What are physical characteristics of
mimic octopi?
 60 centimeters across
 Usually brown and white
in color (but can change
resulting from mood or
environment)
What is unique about the mimic
octopus?
 Mimic octopi are unique
because of their amazing
skill camouflaging
themselves.
 These octopi take their
camouflage to an extreme
by actually contorting their
bodies into the shape of,
and then actually behaving
like various other sea
creatures.
What do mimic octopi eat?
 Mimic octopi feed on the bottom of the tropical
estuaries in which they live.
 They search the sea floor for small fish and
crustaceans to eat.
Mimic Octopus Behaviors
 These are some examples of the mimic octopus’ ability
to expertly imitate other animals.
 Can you guess what animal it is mimicking?
What Animal?
This octopus has hidden
three of it’s arms so that it
looks like a sea star.
What Animal?
The octopus has positioned
itself so that it looks almost
identical to a flat fish such as
a flounder.
What Animal?
Part of this octopus is inside
of its hole so it looks to be a
snake.
What Animal?
In this photo, the octopus
looks like a lionfish.
What Animal?
This octopus looks like a ray.
Mimic Octopus
blending in with
the sea floor.
This Octopus is
partially hidden in
his hole.
•http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/09/0
920_octopusmimic.html
•http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=260
•http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/4/fish