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Project Noah Nature School
Octopus cyanea
Octopus, 2-3 feet long, displaying ability to change color
Near shore tropical waters.
Spotted about 80 feet down off of Lahilahi Point, Oahu on sloping rubble bottom below reef shelf. Sometimes classified as Octopus marmoratus. Original media photoprints; prints subsequently scanned and images saved as digital files.
Spotted on Mar 15, 1981
Submitted on Dec 3, 2011
2 Comments
Sometimes, their ability betrays them. I've passed over holes where an octopus was hiding, and noticed nothing--until the octopus got excited and changed color from dull gray to bright red. It's a reaction similar to a human blushing with embarrassment. A sudden color change like that attracts attention.
It is awesome the ability to camouflage of this guys.