Thaumoctopus

Common Names

The mimic octopus is also known as the "wonderpus" and the "mimic octopus".

Characteristics

The mimic octopus is relatively small, with a typical mantle length of around 60 cm (24 in). Its body is soft and flexible, allowing it to contort itself into various shapes. Its arms are long and slender, with suckers that can be used to grip prey, manipulate objects, and even mimic the movements of other animals.

The mimic octopus's most remarkable characteristic is its extraordinary ability to mimic the appearance and behavior of other marine animals. It can imitate the movements, colors, and textures of various species, including lionfish, sea snakes, flatfish, and jellyfish.

The mimic octopus achieves this remarkable mimicry through a combination of factors:

• Color and texture changes: Its skin contains pigment cells called chromatophores, which allow it to rapidly change color and pattern. It can also manipulate the texture of its skin by altering the shape of papillae (small bumps) on its surface.
• Body contortions: The octopus can contort its body into various shapes, extending its arms to mimic the body plan of other animals.
• Behavioral mimicry: It can also mimic the movement patterns and even the behaviors of its prey or predators. For example, it might wave its arms like a lionfish or undulate its body like a sea snake.

Environment

The mimic octopus is found in the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, primarily around Indonesia and Malaysia. It prefers shallow, sandy or muddy bottoms, often near coral reefs.

References

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-6N-f3X6-M
• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/mimic-octopus
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaumoctopus_mimicus