Common Octopus
Octopus Vulgaris
Habitat
Taxonomic Category
The octopus is a mollusk because it has a symmetrical body, a large head, and arms. It also has the ability to spray ink and has tentacles like many mollusks.
Adaptations
Octopuses are able to release ink when threatened by a predator. This ink distracts the predators and also messes with their sense of smell allowing the octopus to get away.
Octopuses are able to fit into any hole that their beaks can fit though. Their bodies have no bones or shells. They can use this to hide from predators by squeezing into small cracks in rocks.
Octopuses have special skin cells that allow them to change color in seconds. They use this to blend in with rocks and the sea floor to avoid being noticed by predators.
Octopuses are able to completely regrow their arms. If a predator were to bite one off the octopus could still survive.
Octopuses can use jet propulsion to move quickly away from predators or to prey. They suck water into their mantle. They then push the water out pushing the octopus in the other direction.
They have venomous saliva that helps kill prey when they attack them with its beak.(Physiological)
Octopuses only leave their dens to eat or to mate. This allows them to stay safe as much as possible. (Behavioral)
In the spring the octopuses move closer to shore to mate. This helps guarantee that they will find a mate. (Behavioral)
Octopuses have a toothed tongue called a radula. They use it to open shells of sea creatures so they can eat them.
- Female octopuses release 100,000-500,000 eggs. This ensures that some will live to be adults. Only a few do.
Sources
http://animals.mom.me/traits-octopuses-survive-3071.html
http://www.animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/common-octopus/
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/common-octopus/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_octopus