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• The octopus is a marine invertebrate with a large head and eight arms, that is found in oceans around the world.National Geographic: Common Octopus Animal Diversity Web: Common Octopus They are particularly common in the Mediterranean Sea, the ocean near Japan and in the eastern parts of the Atlantic Ocean.Animal Diversity Web: Common Octopus

• Fast Facts

  1. Name is from the Greek words for eight and foot
  2. Habitat: Temperate, tropical, subtropical oceansAnimal Diversity Web: Common Octopus
  3. Diet: CarnivorousNational Geographic: Common Octopus
  4. Size: Typically 12 to 36 inches longNational Geographic: Common Octopus
  5. Weight: Usually between 6.6 and 22 lbsNational Geographic: Common Octopus
  6. Lifespan: 1 to 2 years in the wildNational Geographic: Common Octopus
  7. Phylum: MolluscaOceana: Octopus
  8. Order: CephalopodaOceana: Octopus
  9. About one third of all cephalopod species are octopus speciesOceana: Octopus
  10. Endangered: No
  11. Predators: Dolphins, sharks, some eelsWonderclub: Octopus

• Defense Mechanisms

  The octopus can hide from predators by blending its surroundings through changes in both the color and the texture of the skin.Animal Diversity Web: Common Octopus An octopus will typically flee from potential attackers. However, when attacked most species can direct a stream of water and ink at the threat, creating a cloud that hides the octopus from view. The ink also irritates the attacker's eyes and disables its sense of smell, allowing the octopus to flee.MSN Encarta: Octopus Tonmo: Is Octopus Ink Similar to Fountain Pen Ink?

• Octopus Ink

  Octopus ink is composed of melanin, which is the same substance that gives color to human skin and hair. The compound in the ink which irritates the eyes and sense of smell is known as tyrosinase. While octopus ink is not related to ink used for writing, it is similar to the sepia ink used for pen and ink drawings. True sepia is made by grinding up the ink sacs of the cuttle fish.Tonmo: Is Octopus Ink Similar to Fountain Pen Ink?

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Mediterranean Sea | Atlantic Ocean | Tree Octopus | Metal Gear Solid 4 Laughing Octopus Doll | The Octopus Project

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