The Insane Biology Of The Blanket Octopus

Summary

Blanket octopuses are unique marine creatures with distinctive fleshy sheets between their arms, used for defense against predators. They inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, displaying remarkable sexual size dimorphism with males being significantly smaller than females. These octopuses exhibit intelligence, immunity to certain toxins, and a fascinating mating ritual where males sacrifice themselves post-copulation. They also have a circulatory system with three hearts, and their blood contains hemocyanin, giving it a blue color and allowing efficient oxygen transport in cold depths.

Takeaways

• 🐙 The blanket octopus is unique among its family, with fleshy sheets between its arms that resemble a blanket when spread out.
• 🌊 These octopuses use their 'blankets' as a defense mechanism against predators, either to scare them away or to entangle them, allowing the octopus to escape.
• 🔍 The oldest known ancestor of the octopus, a 330-million-year-old fossil named 'Selipsima', suggests that the octopus lineage is older than previously thought and predates dinosaurs.
• 🌐 Blanket octopuses are found in tropical and subtropical waters, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, around Australia, and in New Zealand waters.
• 🕳️ They prefer to live in coral reefs and ocean floors, often hiding in small crevices and rock bottoms.
• 👥 Male and female blanket octopuses exhibit extreme sexual size dimorphism, with males being only an inch long and females growing up to six feet.
• 🦐 The mating process of blanket octopuses is intriguing, where males detach a specialized arm containing sperm, which the female then uses for fertilization.
• 🧠 Blanket octopuses are highly intelligent, capable of using tools, changing color for camouflage, and even utilizing the tentacles of the venomous Portuguese man o' war for defense.
• 🌡️ These octopuses can survive in varying water temperatures and are known to be nomadic, changing their habitat every 10 to 14 days.
• 💙 They have a unique circulatory system with three hearts and blue blood due to the presence of hemocyanin, which is efficient in cold conditions.

Q & A

What is unique about the appearance of blanket octopuses compared to other octopuses?

Blanket octopuses have fleshy sheets stretched between their arms, which resemble a blanket when spread out, hence their name. This is a unique morphological feature compared to other octopuses.

How do blanket octopuses use their 'blankets' for defense?

When threatened, blanket octopuses stretch their arms out to create a silhouette that can scare away predators. If this fails, they can detach the 'blankets' to entangle predators, allowing them to escape.

What is the significance of the 330-million-year-old fossil named 'Selipsima'?

The fossil 'Selipsima' is considered the oldest known ancestor to the octopus, suggesting that the octopus lineage is older than previously believed and predates dinosaurs.

In what regions are blanket octopuses commonly found?

Blanket octopuses are found in tropical and subtropical waters, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, off the coast of Australia, and in the waters of New Zealand.

What is the difference in size between male and female blanket octopuses?

Male blanket octopuses grow barely up to an inch, while females can grow up to six feet in length, showcasing a significant sexual size dimorphism.

How do male blanket octopuses mate given the vast size difference between males and females?

Male blanket octopuses have a specialized arm called hectocotylus, which they use to transfer sperm to the female. After mating, the males often die, and the females carry the eggs until they hatch.

What are the main predators of blanket octopuses?

The main predators of blanket octopuses are large fish and some types of whales.

How do blanket octopuses use the tentacles of the Portuguese man o' war jellyfish?

Blanket octopuses are immune to the sting of the Portuguese man o' war jellyfish. They break off the poisonous tentacles and use them as a defense mechanism against other predators.

What is the lifespan of a blanket octopus?

The lifespan of a blanket octopus is relatively short, typically no longer than three to five years.

How does the circulatory system of a blanket octopus differ from other invertebrates?

Blanket octopuses have a circulatory system consisting of arteries, capillaries, and veins lined with a cellular endothelium, which is not commonly seen in other invertebrates.

Why is the blood of blanket octopuses blue in color?

The blood of blanket octopuses is blue due to the presence of hemocyanin, which is rich in copper and carries oxygen in the blood plasma instead of being carried by blood cells.

Outlines

00:00

🐙 Unique Defense Mechanisms of the Blanket Octopus

The first paragraph introduces the blanket octopus, highlighting its unique physical characteristics such as the fleshy sheets between its arms that resemble a blanket when spread out. These structures serve as a defense mechanism against predators. When threatened, they can stretch their arms to scare away predators or detach the 'blankets' to entangle the predator, allowing for escape. The paragraph also delves into the evolutionary history of octopuses, mentioning the 330-million-year-old fossil 'Selipsima' as an ancient ancestor. It discusses the octopus's habitat, which spans tropical and subtropical waters, and notes the significant sexual size dimorphism where males are much smaller than females. The mating process is also described, with males detaching a specialized arm for reproduction, leading to their death post-mating. Females carry and protect a large number of eggs until they hatch.

05:01

🌊 Camouflage and Behavioral Traits of the Blanket Octopus

The second paragraph focuses on the blanket octopus's ability to change color for camouflage and its intelligence, which is among the highest in invertebrates. It mentions their immunity to the sting of the Portuguese man o' war jellyfish, which they use as a weapon against predators. The paragraph also discusses the octopuses' nomadic nature, adapting to different water temperatures, and the correlation between water temperature and their size. The mating behavior is further elaborated, with males offering sperm-filled arms to females without coercion, leading to their post-mating demise. The intelligence of octopuses is underscored, including their ability to use tools and learn from observation. The potential for octopuses to become dominant ocean creatures if they had a longer lifespan is also considered.

10:04

💙 Physiological Adaptations and Life Cycle of the Blanket Octopus

The third paragraph delves into the physiological aspects of the blanket octopus, including its circulatory system with three hearts and the presence of hemocyanin, which gives its blood a blue color. It explains how hemocyanin is an adaptation for living in cold conditions due to its higher oxygen-carrying efficiency compared to hemoglobin. The reproductive process is detailed, with females laying a large number of eggs and exhibiting maternal care, ceasing to eat during the incubation period. After hatching, the female's body undergoes cellular suicide, leading to death. The life cycle continues with the larvae drifting in plankton clouds, where they face predation risks. The paragraph concludes by noting that, despite their elusive nature, blanket octopuses are not considered endangered, reflecting the challenges in studying their population due to their deep-sea habitat.

Keywords

💡Blanket Octopuses

Blanket octopuses are a unique species within the octopus family, characterized by their distinctive fleshy webbing that stretches between their arms, resembling a blanket. This feature is not only their namesake but also serves as their primary defense mechanism against predators. As mentioned in the script, when threatened, they can stretch their arms out to create a silhouette that intimidates predators or detach these 'blankets' to entangle predators, allowing for escape. This behavior exemplifies their adaptability and survival strategies in the marine environment.

💡Sexual Size Dimorphism

Sexual size dimorphism refers to the significant size differences between males and females of the same species. In the case of blanket octopuses, this phenomenon is particularly pronounced, with males growing barely over an inch in size, while females can reach up to six feet in length. This stark contrast is one of the most substantial differences found in the animal kingdom and is central to understanding the reproductive dynamics of these creatures. The script highlights this by pointing out that male blanket octopuses are so small that they could fit inside the pupil of a female's eye.

💡Selipsima

Selipsima, a 330-million-year-old fossil found in Montana, is considered the oldest known ancestor to the octopus. This fossil sheds light on the evolutionary history of octopuses, suggesting that they are an ancient species that predates dinosaurs. The script uses this example to emphasize the long-standing presence of octopuses in the Earth's history and their evolutionary significance.

💡Tropical and Subtropical Waters

Blanket octopuses are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical waters, particularly in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, off the coast of Australia, and in the waters of New Zealand. These regions provide a suitable habitat for these creatures, which are often associated with coral reefs and ocean floors. The script mentions these habitats to illustrate the geographical distribution and preferred living conditions of blanket octopuses.

💡Camouflage

Camouflage is the ability of an organism to blend into its surroundings, making it difficult for predators or prey to detect it. Blanket octopuses are known for their exceptional camouflage skills, which they use for both hunting and evading predators. The script describes how they can change color at will, matching their surroundings, which is a testament to their intelligence and adaptability.

💡Portuguese Man of War

The Portuguese man of war is a highly toxic jellyfish that blanket octopuses have evolved to not only withstand but also to utilize for their own defense. As the script explains, blanket octopuses are immune to the jellyfish's sting and can break off its tentacles to ward off other predators. This unique adaptation showcases the octopuses' resourcefulness and their ability to exploit the environment for survival.

💡Hemocyanin

Hemocyanin is the copper-based respiratory pigment found in the blood of octopuses, which gives their blood a blue color. Unlike hemoglobin in humans, which is iron-based and red, hemocyanin is more efficient at carrying oxygen in cold conditions. The script mentions that blanket octopuses have hemocyanin, which is an evolutionary adaptation that allows them to thrive in the deep, cold waters of the ocean.

💡Circulatory System

The circulatory system of blanket octopuses is unique among invertebrates, featuring a complex network of arteries, capillaries, and veins. This system, along with their three hearts, is essential for distributing oxygen-rich blood throughout their bodies. The script highlights the systemic heart, which pumps blood throughout the body, and the two branchial hearts, which pump blood through the gills, illustrating the advanced physiology of these creatures.

💡Mating Behavior

The mating behavior of blanket octopuses is both fascinating and unusual. Males have a specialized arm called the hectocotylus, which they use to transfer sperm to the female. After mating, the males often die, suggesting that their primary purpose is reproduction. The script describes this behavior as an example of selfless love, where the male sacrifices itself for the continuation of the species.

💡Larvae

Larvae are the early developmental stage of many marine animals, including blanket octopuses. After hatching from their eggs, the larvae drift in plankton clouds, feeding on other animal larvae. The script mentions that these larvae are vulnerable to predation but eventually mature into adults. This stage is crucial for the survival and continuation of the species.

Highlights

Blanket octopuses have unique fleshy sheets between their arms, resembling a blanket when spread out.

These 'blankets' serve as a defense mechanism against predators, rather than for hunting.

When threatened, they can detach their arms, leaving predators entangled and allowing escape.

A 330-million-year-old fossil named 'Selipsima' suggests octopuses are older than dinosaurs.

Blanket octopuses inhabit tropical and subtropical waters, often near coral reefs and ocean floors.

They exhibit sexual size dimorphism, with males being significantly smaller than females.

Male blanket octopuses have a unique mating strategy, detaching a specialized arm for reproduction.

Females can carry over 200,000 eggs, which they guard until hatching.

They are immune to the toxins of the Portuguese man o' war jellyfish, using its tentacles for defense.

Blanket octopuses show intelligence, using tools and exhibiting different personalities.

They have a circulatory system with three hearts, adapted for their unique physiology.

Their blood contains hemocyanin, giving it a blue color and allowing efficient oxygen transport in cold water.

After mating, male blanket octopuses die, while females fast and guard their eggs until they hatch.

The hatched larvae drift with plankton, facing predation until they mature.

Despite their unique characteristics, blanket octopuses are not considered endangered.

Transcripts

octopuses are incredible animals but

unlike other members of the octopus

family the blanket octopuses have sheets

of Flesh stretched between their arms

these sheets of meat when they spread

their arms look like a blanket and thus

the name blanket octopuses the only

morphological similarity between them is

the Silvery tone on their sides and the

very dark purple or blue dorsal surface

these blanket-like structures is

obviously not for worms instead they use

this web as their first line of defense

against predators when threatened

blanket octopuses are found to stretch

their arms out creating a silhouette

that is capable of scaring away the

Predators when these deceptive trick

does not work out they are capable of

detaching these blankets causing the

Predator to be entangled in the web

giving them enough time to escape

detaching these blankets may also happen

accidentally

believed to be the oldest known ancestor

to the octopus a 330 million year old

fossil named selipsima ported by the

name was found in Montana which leads

researchers to conclude that not only

did the octopus exist even longer than

they had originally believed but it's an

even more ancient species than the

dinosaurs this creature known as a

vampire report is most probably the

ancient ancestor of not only the octopus

but the vampire squid as well these

older cephalopod had 10 arms instead of

the eight that we see on the octopus of

today

they are found to inhabit in all the

tropical and subtropical Waters of our

planet blanket octopuses are commonly

found in tropical temperate seas in the

Pacific and Atlantic Oceans Coast

Australia and in the waters of New

Zealand they are frequently found to

live along the coral reefs and ocean

floor these octopuses make dance where

they live and can stay undetected in it

small crevices and rock bottoms are also

their preferred places to visit unlike

the ordinary octopuses that are found to

make only specific depths as habits the

blanket octopuses are found in deep

depth of the ocean floor this creates

another reason for the blanket octopuses

to be considered different from their

close cousins

among the many factors that make the

blanket Octopus as one of the weirdest

in the Marine World is the startling

difference in size between a male and

female male blanket octopuses grow

barely up to an inch while some females

are found to grow to a hoping six feet

in length the males are so small that

they could easily fit inside the ladies

pupils while a male blanket octopus

weighs a little over then what a walnut

wood the female blanket octopuses can

weigh almost 40 000 times more than the

males this drastic difference in size

and weight is called sexual size

dimorphism blanket octopuses are not the

only species to show sexual size

dimorphism but theirs is the most

substantial difference found in the

animal kingdom it appears to the Marine

scientists and biologists that the male

blanket octopuses spent the majority of

their energy on finding a potential

female to mate and not on growing did

you know that the present of male

blanket octopuses was a myth until they

were seen in the Fisherman's Net

though there are other species in the

animal kingdom showing sexual dimorphism

none of them have such a startling

difference as these blanket octopuses

how do they mate with such a difference

in size this question has intrigued

biologists for years the males have a

large arm known as hectica tylus in a

spherical pouch on their body these

large arms are in fact a modified

reproductive organs of the male when

they mate the hectica tileus detaches

from the male's body and the female

keeps it in their mental cavity until

her eggs are all fertilized soon after a

successful mate the males are found to

die as if their sole purpose of survival

was to have a successful mate the female

blanket octopuses can carry more than

200 000 eggs in a sausage-shaped

calcareous secretion at the base of the

dorsal arms they carry the eggs until

they hatch

the main predators of a blanket octopus

are large fishes and some types of

whales since the male blanket octopus is

very small they are vulnerable to attack

from fishes than the females the female

blanket octopuses unfurl their blankets

in the event of a threat from a

potential Predator this behavior is

quite common in the animal kingdom

generally the bigger prey appears the

more the Predators will be suspicious

and do not take a chance in the event

where these deceptive defense does not

work they can detach their blankets from

their body causing the Predators to be

Tangled in it the blanket of these

species floating the ocean waters is a

common sight in tropical and subtropical

oceans the blanket octopus like most of

the other octopuses have the ability to

change its color at will their ability

to observe their surroundings and change

color accordingly makes them capable of

excellent camouflage which is also an

example of their intelligence typically

they have silvery side and purple

surfaces

there are quite a few tricks these guys

have upped their sleeve in the case

where their blanket defense does not

work they do not freak out blanket

octopuses are immune to this Sting from

their highly toxic jellyfish Portuguese

man of war these octopuses are commonly

found to break off the poisonous

Tentacles from these jellyfishes and

using them to fight off other Predators

some divers have reported citing these

octopuses brandishing the tentacles of a

jellyfish considering them as a

Potential Threat

the blanket octopuses behave similarly

to the ordinary octopuses when it comes

to choosing their habitat these

creatures tend to find a new place to

stay every 10 to 14 days the reasons for

this Behavior can be attributed to their

opportunistic nature these octopuses can

survive in different water temperatures

making it easier for them to adapt to

the nomadic life this ability to survive

in varying temperature conditions is

said to be one of the reasons for these

species to have survived for millions of

years did you know that apart with

showing sexual dimorphism these

octopuses size also varies with the

temperature of the water they live in

the species living in warmer bodies of

water are much smaller than those

residing where it's colder

romantic yeah you heard me right blanket

octopuses are very wild creatures and

the epidome of Selfless Love now let's

get to the point when a male blanket

octopus finds a female he doesn't try to

prove himself or convince her that he's

the right guy instead he fills up his

small arm with his sperms and sticks it

to her body she can use it if she wants

no compulsion whatsoever all he wants is

her to be happy the little guys then

break their small arm containing the

sperms and swim away these male blanket

octopuses die almost soon after a

successful mate

all octopuses are intelligent including

the blanket octopuses in fact biologists

say that octopuses are the most

intelligent among the invertebrates they

can use tools create Gardens to

camouflage mimic other ocean animals and

perform tasks by watching other more

experienced octopuses blanket octopuses

are immune to the toxins of the

poisonous jellyfish the Portuguese man

of war these octopuses break the

tentacles of the jellyfish and are seen

to use it to defend themselves from

predators biologists who have researched

on the behavioral patterns of blanket

octopuses claims that they have

different temperaments towards specific

activities and objects this suggests

that they might have different

personalities or at least preferences

towards certain things some biologists

believe that if the lifespan of

octopuses were longer they would have

become one of the most intelligent and

dominant ocean animals alive

unfortunately they have a shorter

lifespan of no longer than three to five

years a longer lifespan would have given

them enough time to develop their

intelligence and improve their abilities

similar to the common Octopus as a

blanket octopus has three hearts and the

massive brain that's located inside

their colossal head each heart of a

blanket octopus serves a distinct

function the systemic heart is

responsible for pumping the blood

throughout their body while the two

branchial hearts are responsible for

pumping the blood through their pair of

gills when the animal swims the systemic

heart stops functioning and the amount

of oxygenated blood in their body drops

down to an alarming rate which is why

they aren't seen swimming rather seen

effortlessly gliding another exciting

Factor about them is the presence of a

circulatory system consisting of

arteries capillaries and veins and are

lined with a cellular endothelium this

is something that is not seen in the

other invertebrates the blood circulates

through the aorta in capillary system to

the vena cava after which the blood is

pumped through the gills by by the

auxiliary heart and back to the central

heart though there are morphological

differences between the male and female

blanket octopuses there aren't any

significant anatomical differences and

hence they have a similar circulatory

system

blanket octopuses are the epitome of

Amazement just like there is hemoglobin

in our blood that is responsible for

carrying oxygen to different parts of

our body octopuses have Hema cyanine in

their blood the hemocyanin is rich in

Copper and is mixed with blood plasma

instead of being carried by the blood

cells causing its blood to be blue in

color the blanket octopuses are found to

have high blood pressures in excess of

80 millimeters of mercury having

hemocyanin makes the blood viscous which

means it requires a considerable amount

of pressure to circulate the blood

throughout their body the presence of

hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin is an

evolutionary adaptation to living in

cold conditions octopuses in general are

found in considerable depth in their

natural habitat the temperature in those

depths will be very less than what is on

the surface and in such low temperatures

hemocyanin can carry oxygen more

efficiently than hemoglobin

the male blanket octopuses die almost as

soon as they transfer their arms

containing the sperms to the female once

the eggs are fertilized the females can

lay around 200

000 to 400 000 eggs the female species

are seen to take good care of the eggs

as if she's obsessed with eggs the

female blanket octopuses are even seen

to stop consuming food while they wait

for the eggs to hatch once the eggs

hatch the female's body starts shutting

down

cellular suicide happens which causes

her tissues and organs to rip apart this

continues until the adult blanket

octopus dies the hatched eggs are called

larvae and they are found to drift in

the Plankton clouds these larvae are

seen eating other animal larvae until

they mature when living in the Plankton

clouds they are prone to be eaten by

other species that survive on Plankton

these larvae do not have a blanket-like

structure for defense mother is capable

of using a poison Stinger like the

adults

though blanket octopuses are not widely

seen it does not imply to them being

endangered according to the

international Union for conservation of

nature most octopus species are not

endangered in fact it is difficult to

collect data about their numbers as most

octopuses live in great depth