Amazing facts about cephalopods

 
A cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) mimicking the sandy ocean ground. Picture: Nick Hobgood (Source).

Octopuses, squids and other cephalopods have in common several tentacles at their head, used to catch prey and to pull it towards the mouth. 

Among the molluscs, cephalopods are a group rather small in number: Only about 650 different species are known. Nevertheless, octopuses and squids have made their way into the world of human legends, a part of which always is believed to remain the truth.

But who would have thought there truly are squids 70 feet in length fighting legendary battles in deep sea against their worst enemy, the sperm whale?

Possibly not all of those tales are true, but certainly more are than we believe.

Octopuses are able to find their way through a labyrinth and they can open jars screwed shut. Those are abilities one would rather expect from a mammal than from a boneless mollusc! Cuttlefish can change their outer appearance and their colour better than a chameleon, and there are even some octopuses so poisonous they can kill a human within seconds.

It is a goal of this homepage to bring this fascinating group a little bit more to your understanding and wake your interest for a group of animals whose life often enough takes place concealed from our sight.






 

 
  One glimpse on cephalopods:

  Chapter overview:

Lesser octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) from the north sea.
Photo: by courtesy of Erling Svensen.