Eric was doing some field work tonight (17 January 2026), but on the side he ended up with several great shots of an intriguing Red Octopus (Octopus rubescens).
Above, note how well the octopus blends in with the background, matching the surrounding colors and textures.
Below, a closer view from the side next to the sea anemone:
And a zoomed in view, highlighting that beautiful eye:
When the octopus changed position, it changed color and texture, this time matching some of the surrounding seaweeds and nearby animals. And check out how it matched the color of the sponge in the upper right corner of the photo —
the suckers are the same deep orange color as the sponge!
P.S. With thanks to the octopus and to Eric for the great photos!
4 comments:
Gorgeous -- and great eyes for even seeing it. Supposedly the signal for the chromatophores is sent by the octopus's brain, but the speed and complexity make me wonder if the chromatophores themselves sense the wavelength near them and match it without the need for conscious brain activity. Or does the signal really need to go to the brain and back?
What a treat to encounter such an amazing animal! Thanks so much for sharing
Hi, John! I need to look up the latest on octopus camouflage...so stay tuned. I think there have been some more recent discoveries about how the cells in their skin can detect and respond to their surroundings. More soon!
Hi, Hollis! Yes! We always feel lucky to cross paths with an octopus. Sometimes we can go a very long time without seeing one, so we don't take it for granted!
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