Random Signal Annex

THE INVASION BEGINS!

rhamphotheca:

Close Contact With a Pacific Giant Octopus

(photo: Stuart Westmorland, Mill Creek, Washington)

On his first cold-water dive in more than a decade, Westmorland happened upon clear water and good visibility—and a very curious giant Pacific octopus. The animal noticed the photographer and made a beeline for him and his equipment, eventually wrapping itself around him and his tank. “As it’s exploring me, I’m just firing away with my camera,” says Westmorland, who managed to remain calm. “The power in those tentacles is one of the truly amazing things in the ocean.”

(via: National Wildlife Federation)

morelikegazoinksbo:

lulubonanza:

Victorian Aquaman
Drawn By
David J.Cutler

Blog

suddenly the johns’ new aquaman is a disappointment.

(via love-and-radiation)

animalworld:

KNOBBY ARGONAUT
Argonauta nodosa
© shigeru.harazaki

The knobby or knobbed argonau is a species of pelagic octopus. The female, produces a very characteristic paper-thin shell, which is covered in many small nodules on the ridges across the shell. These nodules are less obvious or absent in juvenile females, especially those under 5 cm in length. The argonaut’s shell is runs approximately 5.5 - 10 inches (150 mm - 250mm in length). Males rarely surpass 3/4” (2 cm) and only mate once in their short lifetime, whereas the females are capable of having offspring many times over the course of their lives. In addition, the females have been known since ancient times, while the males were only described in the late 19th century.

Unlike most octopuses, argonauts live close to the sea surface rather than on the seabed. Argonauta species are characterised by very large eyes and small distal webs. The mantle-funnel locking apparatus is a major diagnostic feature of this taxon. It consists of knob-like cartilages in the mantle and corresponding depressions in the funnel. Argonauta species lack water pores.

Argonauts use tentacles to grab prey and drag it toward the mouth. It then bites the prey to inject it with poison from the salivary gland. They feed on small crustaceans, mollusks, jellyfish and salps. If the prey has a shell, the argonaut uses its radula to drill into the organism, then inject the poison.

Argonauts are capable of altering their color, blending in with their surroundings to avoid predators. They also produce ink when the animal is being attacked. This ink paralyzes the olfaction of the attacker, providing time for the argonaut to escape. The female is also able to pull back the web covering of her shell, making a silvery flash, which may deter a predator from attacking.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argonaut_%28animal%29

Other posts:

Chambered Nautilus

Coconut Veined Octopus

Wunderpus

Squid Mating

(via indiesquidkid)

indiesquidkid:

Awwww….

YOU GUYS! Did you know today was Octopus Awareness Day? I’ve been posting octopus spam galore over at Indie Squid Kid.

(via indiesquidkid)

biomedicalephemera:

Octopi:

1. Octopus Levis

2. Octopus Bermudensis

The Voyage of the HMS Challenger: Report on Cephalopoda Specimens

Meant to post this to Indie Squid Kid: The Tumblr! Oh well, BONUS OCTOPUS!

(via tentaclegarden)

indiesquidkid:

Cephalopedala by Jillian Nickell

So, here’s the thing. I have this little blog called Indie Squid Kid which I haven’t updated in a very long time. For over a year now, I’ve been Liking posts that I have intended to reblog on ISK. However, I am coming to terms with the sad truth that Tumblr has ruined regular blogging for me…Wordpress just seems like so much WORK! So I am admitting defeat and doing what I should have done ages ago…starting an Indie Squid Kid Tumblr blog! Will this replace indiesquidkid.com? I honestly don’t know. If I could find some way to cross-post from Tumblr to Wordpress that would be ideal. Well, anyway, I see that I’ve crossed over into full-blown ramble mode, which means it’s time to go.

But I will say this: if you are a fan of cephalopods (i.e. squids, octopuses, and their tentacley brethren), I suggest you follow me at indiesquidkid.tumblr.com!

World’s Columbian Exposition at the Field Museum, 1893

rhamphotheca:

kuroicherry: The allure of the unique Blanket Octopus is its poetic defense mechanism. When the Blanket Octopus is threatened, a gorgeous scarf-like webbing unfurls from a set of arms tucked within its body, making the animal appear large, intimidating and creepy to potential predators.