Mimic Octopus

Mimic Octopus Thaumoctopus mimicus

Facts

Family: Octopodidae
Common name: Mimic octopus
Scientific name: Thaumoctopus mimicus

Description and Origin

The Mimic Octopus was first discovered in 1998 of the coast of Indonesia.
The name for this Octopus comes from the fact that they copy the behaviors of other animals and change their appearance to look like them.
Mimic Octopuses copy the behaviors of other marine organisms in order to trick predators into leaving them alone.
The mimic octopus can change color in order to look like animals.

Mimic Octopus' normal state

Different organisms it mimics

Lionfish
Seasnakes
Sole/flatfish
Cuttlefish
Sand anemones
Stingrays
Jellyfish

Lion fish, jellyfish, sea snake

Characteristics/Anatomy

Quite small, grows up to 60 cm (2 ft)
Body is covered with brown and white stripes or spots, although in their resting state their color is more of a pale brown or beige
Tentacles are about 25 cm in length
8 arms, 3 hearts, other internal organs, and a siphon for jet propulsion
Large brain, lacks sense of hearing, excellent eyesight
Has pigment sacks on its skin known as chromatophores which allows them to rapidly change their pattern and color

Ancestry

Not much is known what the Mimic Octopus evolved because it has only been recently discovered
Other Octopuses do not have accurate evolutionary data either
Presumed theory is that its ancestors first had the ability to rapidly change colors then came the ability to mimic behavior

Wonderpus Octopus

Habitat

Indo-Pacific - can be found in places like the Red Sea or the Great Barrier Reef
Most documented records of the Mimic Octopus are from Indonesia
Primarily found in areas with sand at depths of about 50 feet
It prefers muddy sea floors in order to blend in with its natural brown, beige color

Food Chain

Secondary Consumer
Prey: Small Fish and Crabs
Predators: Small Shark and Barracuda
Feeding Habits: Stalks their prey or forages over an area of sand

Reproduction

Male inserts its hectocotylus into the female's cavity where he deposits sperm packets
Hectocotylus falls off and the male dies soon after
Female fertilizes and carries the eggs in strings while continuing to feed
The larvae hatch and the female dies soon after
Larvae drift as plankton as they mature, then sink and begin life on the ocean floor

Mimic Octopus mating

Lifespan

Lives only for nine months

Interesting Facts

To trick predators they mimic the behavior of other marine animals
The ability to impersonate another animal has never been seen before the discovery of the Mimic Octopus
They grow to a size of about 2 feet.
Female dies as soon as they give birth - the hatchlings have to fend for themselves right from the moment they're born
Unknown whether the Mimic Octopus is poisonous or not
We do not know how the Mimic Octopus knows what animals to shape-shift into (whether it is their instinct or it is a learned behavior)

Sources

http://www.dive-the-world.com/creatures-mimic-octopus.php
http://www.icr.org/article/where-did-mimic-octopus-get-its-amazing/
http://www.octopusworlds.com/mimic-octopus/
http://wetpixel.com/articles/andrea-and-antonella-ferrari-photograph-pair-of-mating-mimic-octopus/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-LTWFnGmeg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8oQBYw6xxc
https://owlcation.com/stem/The-Wonderpus-Octopus-and-Mimic-Octopus-of-Indonesia-and-Malaysia

Created By

Ryan Harnanan

Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by one1kat - "Mimic Octopus" • Stephen Childs - "Mimic Octopus" • Stephen Childs - "mimic_octopus" • Stephen Childs - "Mimic Octopus" • Stephen Childs - "Mimic Octopus" • prilfish - "Mimic Octopus" • Eschtar - "fish sea fish lion fish" • klawson - "jellyfish blue underwater" • snotch - "_3140034.jpg" • Stephen Childs - "mimic_octopus" • Christian Gloor (mostly) underwater photographer - "Wonderpus"

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