Octopods Rule

[Furtherman]

<p><img src="http://bigpicture.typepad.com/writing/images/octopus_camo_1.jpg" border="0" width="300" height="225" /></p><p>Can you see the Octopus?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://www.thebiglist.com/index.php?module=s4w&amp;page=http://www.thebiglist.com/html/2006.06/20831113130448.html" target="_blank">You can find it here.</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I remember seeing this at a special movie at the Museum Of Natural History.<br /><br />It blew me away. The scientists during the special said that if humans were to die off the next species that would most likely take over would be the Octopus. With the threat of humans, they would thrive and being extremely intelligent and adaptable, wherein in a millennia, they&nbsp;could be the dominate species of the planet.</p>

[MadMatt]

<p>What the hell?!?!?!</p><p>How do they do that?</p>

[Marc with a c]

<p>i ate octupus on tuesday night.</p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial"><font size="1">Churrascaria in tribeca really fucking good food.</font></span>

[yomudder21]

<font size="2">That just scared the ever living crap out of me.</font>

[DJEvelEd]

<p>That's pretty cool. I think they turn white when they are scared, then shoot out their ink.</p><p>It reminds me of the Klingons who have to de-cloak before they fire a weapon.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by DJEvelEd on 1-4-07 @ 3:41 PM</span>

[crb1]

<p>Blending in with your surroundings, until the perfect moment to strike.&nbsp; Gee, I wonder where he got that idea???</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/crb1/rambo.jpg" border="0" width="200" height="267" /></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[reillyluck]

THat was amazing! I love Furtherman's Threads!

[Drunky McBetidont]

<p>im getting errors on the page. just green in the player window. ???</p><p>found it on utube and it is neat.</p><p>check this one out. these eight armed things are scary</p><p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4007016107763801953&amp;q=octopus&amp;hl=e n">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4007016107763801953&amp;q=octopus&amp;hl=e n</a></p><p>or this one:</p><p><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202&amp;q=octopus&amp;hl=en">http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7004909622962894202&amp;q=octopus&amp;hl=en</a></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by betidont on 1-4-07 @ 3:49 PM</span>

[FUNKMAN]

<strong>Marc with a c</strong> wrote:<br /><p>i ate octupus on tuesday night.</p><span style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: Arial"><font size="1">Churrascaria in tribeca really fucking good food.</font></span> <p>i like the octopie</p>

[TheGameHHH]

Am i the only one that saw the octopus and knew where it was? That was still fucking incredible to see, it really is truly beautiful to watch a species do that.

[Furtherman]

<p>Years ago I either read or heard a story about an octopus that may or may not be true.&nbsp; I guess it is sort of my own urban myth.&nbsp; </p><p>I was just about to write it but I did a google search and found the story... it's more commonly known than I had thought:</p><p><strong>I saw a documentary not long ago, where the researchers couldn't understand why some of the specimens were disappearing. They set up a video camera then left for the night. The culprit was their octopus, which left its tank, crawled along to the tank of the missing creatures, climbed in, ate its supper then crawled out again, and made its way back to its own tank. The fact that it was already well-fed, and it waited until the researchers had gone for the night, proves that it wasn't driven by hunger, and it knew when to go on the hunt...</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The way I heard it was a guy in an apartment had two tanks - one with fish, one with an octopus - and couldn't understand why his fish was disappearing.&nbsp; Thinking the cleaning lady was stealing fish, he set up a video camera...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>True or not, I bet it is possible.</p>

[Drunky McBetidont]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Years ago I either read or heard a story about an octopus that may or may not be true.&nbsp; I guess it is sort of my own urban myth.&nbsp; </p><p>I was just about to write it but I did a google search and found the story... it's more commonly known than I had thought:</p><p><strong>I saw a documentary not long ago, where the researchers couldn't understand why some of the specimens were disappearing. They set up a video camera then left for the night. The culprit was their octopus, which left its tank, crawled along to the tank of the missing creatures, climbed in, ate its supper then crawled out again, and made its way back to its own tank. The fact that it was already well-fed, and it waited until the researchers had gone for the night, proves that it wasn't driven by hunger, and it knew when to go on the hunt...</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The way I heard it was a guy in an apartment had two tanks - one with fish, one with an octopus - and couldn't understand why his fish was disappearing.&nbsp; Thinking the cleaning lady was stealing fish, he set up a video camera...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>True or not, I bet it is possible.</p><p>did you watch the shark one i posted above?&nbsp; that looks real to me, but i wouldn't be able to photoshop myself out of a paper bag.</p><p>octopus eats jeff corwin, news at 11</p>

[burrben]

that's insane

[Tall_James]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br /><p><strong>I saw a documentary not long ago, where the researchers couldn't understand why some of the specimens were disappearing. They set up a video camera then left for the night. The culprit was their octopus, which left its tank, crawled along to the tank of the missing creatures, climbed in, ate its supper then crawled out again, and made its way back to its own tank. The fact that it was already well-fed, and it waited until the researchers had gone for the night, proves that it wasn't driven by hunger, and it knew when to go on the hunt...</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The way I heard it was a guy in an apartment had two tanks - one with fish, one with an octopus - and couldn't understand why his fish was disappearing.&nbsp; Thinking the cleaning lady was stealing fish, he set up a video camera...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I'd be sleeping with a fucking speargun if I was that guy.&nbsp; If that Octopus tried that with me I'd cut of 2 of his tentacles and put him back in the tank just to send him a message.&nbsp; </p><p>Yakuza that 8-armed motherfucker!&nbsp; Henry the Octopus must die!</p>

[Furtherman]

<strong>betidont</strong> wrote:<br /><p>did you watch the shark one i posted above?&nbsp; that looks real to me, but i wouldn't be able to photoshop myself out of a paper bag.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I did - that's a great one too!&nbsp; Totally real.&nbsp; </p><p>If you think about it - without a human threat - these octopuses could evolve to grow huge and be able to take on Great Whites!&nbsp; </p>

[TheVHD]

That's crazy.&nbsp; The only thing I've ever seen about the Octopus is that they are shy and timid.&nbsp; I&nbsp;never knew that they&nbsp;were that agressive. I dig sharks but those&nbsp;Octopi are badazz...&nbsp;

[burrben]

<strong>TheVHD</strong> wrote:<br />That's crazy.&nbsp; The only thing I've ever seen about the Octopus is that they are shy and timid.&nbsp; I&nbsp;never knew that they&nbsp;were that agressive. I dig sharks but those&nbsp;Octopi are badazz...&nbsp; <p>i heard a song about the garden of an octopus once. the name escapes me</p>

[Jughead]

I dont need the discovery channel any more I have Futherman..Awsome Have you seen on y tube&nbsp; octapus goes through 1 inch hole.....????That thread start is one of my favs....Good job FM

[TheVHD]

<strong>burrben</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>TheVHD</strong> wrote:<br />That's crazy.&nbsp; The only thing I've ever seen about the Octopus is that they are shy and timid.&nbsp; I&nbsp;never knew that they&nbsp;were that agressive. I dig sharks but those&nbsp;Octopi are badazz...&nbsp; <p>i heard a song about the garden of an octopus once. the name escapes me</p><p>Beatles- Octopus's Garden... tomorrow's opening song???&nbsp; HHMMmmm....</p>

[Jughead]

Have you ever noticed that when i post everyone splits....

[TheVHD]

<strong>jughead46041</strong> wrote:<br />Have you ever noticed that when i post everyone splits.... <p><img src="http://www.dreamweaver.mb.ca/splits.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="227" /></p>

[KennethC]

If Octopi are so fierce, how come the Detroit Red Wings always score when they hit the ice? They're the Washington Generals of the deep.

[Drunky McBetidont]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>betidont</strong> wrote:<br /><p>did you watch the shark one i posted above?&nbsp; that looks real to me, but i wouldn't be able to photoshop myself out of a paper bag.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I did - that's a great one too!&nbsp; Totally real.&nbsp; </p><p>If you think about it - without a human threat - these octopuses could evolve to grow huge and be able to take on Great Whites!&nbsp; </p><p>and they have been around even longer than sharks (and sharks have been around forever) and neither have&nbsp;had to change/adapt to survive.</p><font size="1"><p>Among&nbsp;the&nbsp;most&nbsp;ancient vertebrates in the sea, ancestors of modern <strong>sharks</strong> originated almost&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>400</strong>&nbsp;million years ago. Today sharks live in essentially the same way they did more than 200 million years ago, before the rise of the dinosaurs. Scientists have identified nearly 375 species of sharks living today, ranging in size from the dwarf dogfish, less than 20 cm (8 in) in length, to the massive <span>whale shark</span>, which reaches lengths of more than 15 m (50 ft) . </p><p><span class="inline_title">Cephalopod</span>, common name for any of a class of actively predatory marine <span>mollusks</span>, including the <span>squid</span>, <span><strong>octopus</strong></span>, and <span>nautilus</span>.&nbsp; The class is an ancient one, first appearing in the fossil record during the Cambrian period, about <strong>600</strong> million years ago. </p><p><strong>Microsoft &reg; Encarta &reg; 2006. &copy; 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.</strong><!--EndFragment--> </p><p>-- sorry to post text rather than link, but i don't know how to link encarta.</p></font>

[IamFogHat]

My chick and I ate calamari at Pacific Resturaunt that was in the shape of a baby octopii randomly.&nbsp; It was delicious.

[cougarjake13]

<p>a few times in this thread it was said that if not for the human threat the octopus would or could become the most dominant species on the planet</p><p>what threat excatly are we posing to them ??? other than polluting the ocean i got nothing</p>

[Badinia]

<p>The males&nbsp;pass semen to the females from their tentacles, and the ladies&nbsp;snort it and have baby octopussies.&nbsp; That means that the males have 8 penises, so a Mikey D. Octopus would have 7 good ones left.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[outlawfrank]

creeped me out, i was even more surprised how fast that little fucker could move.

[burrben]

<strong>TheVHD</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>jughead46041</strong> wrote:<br />Have you ever noticed that when i post everyone splits.... <p><img src="http://www.dreamweaver.mb.ca/splits.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="227" /></p><p>it looks like her vag is bleeding</p>

[Drunky McBetidont]

<strong>cougarjake13</strong> wrote:<br /><p>a few times in this thread it was said that if not for the human threat the octopus would or could become the most dominant species on the planet</p><p>what threat excatly are we posing to them ??? other than polluting the ocean i got nothing</p><p><a href="http://www.npca.org/marine_and_coastal/marine_wildlife/octopus.html">http://www.npca.org/marine_and_coastal/marine_wildlife/octopus.html</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>and pollution, as you stated.</p>

[MadMatt]

<strong>burrben</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>TheVHD</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>jughead46041</strong> wrote:<br />Have you ever noticed that when i post everyone splits.... <p><img src="http://www.dreamweaver.mb.ca/splits.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="227" /></p><p>it looks like her vag is bleeding</p><p>No, she's just Canadian...</p>

[FUNKMAN]

<strong>burrben</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>TheVHD</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>jughead46041</strong> wrote:<br />Have you ever noticed that when i post everyone splits.... <p><img src="http://www.dreamweaver.mb.ca/splits.jpg" border="0" width="400" height="227" /></p><p>it looks like her vag is bleeding</p><p>no it's just the roast beef juices</p>

[sr71blackbird]

Im not buying it.&nbsp; The skin is smooth and as it &quot;blends&quot; into the plant or whatever, you can see that its not smooth anymore.&nbsp; I call bullshit and photoshop

[Landblast]

<p>Can anyone find no talent in this underwater shot?</p><p>&nbsp;<img src="http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r37/pbrstreetgang1/1713Underwater-eighthcopy.jpg?t=1167972305" border="0" width="284" height="213" />&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>sorry, first photoshop try.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Furtherman]

<strong>sr71blackbird</strong> wrote:<br />Im not buying it.&nbsp; The skin is smooth and as it &quot;blends&quot; into the plant or whatever, you can see that its not smooth anymore.&nbsp; I call bullshit and photoshop <p>Sorry, but it is real.&nbsp; I saw this clip years ago at movie showing at The Museum Of Natural History.&nbsp; I don't think they'd be showing some doctored film.</p>

[Fallon]

<p>Plus they make great pucks!&nbsp;</p><p><img src="http://www.detroitredwings.com/images/history/octopus2.jpg" border="0" width="200" height="234" /></p>

[Badinia]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>sr71blackbird</strong> wrote:<br />Im not buying it.&nbsp; The skin is smooth and as it &quot;blends&quot; into the plant or whatever, you can see that its not smooth anymore.&nbsp; I call bullshit and photoshop <p>Sorry, but it is real.&nbsp; I saw this clip years ago at movie showing at The Museum Of Natural History.&nbsp; I don't think they'd be showing some doctored film.</p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Copy that, Futherman.&nbsp; I've seen it on the Discovery channel and it freaked me the hell out.</p><p>&nbsp; 1. Truth is stranger than fiction.</p><p>&nbsp; 2. Octopi are stranger than Photoshop.</p><p>&nbsp; 3. Nature is stranger than anything.</p>

[FUNKMAN]

i can't view this thing. if i click on the link i get an AOL Dialup popup asking me if i want to connect. if i open a seperate window and go to the page it still won't play...&nbsp; boohoo

[Furtherman]

<strong>FUNKMAN</strong> wrote:<br />i can't view this thing. if i click on the link i get an AOL Dialup popup asking me if i want to connect. if i open a seperate window and go to the page it still won't play...&nbsp; boohoo <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckP8msIgMYE" target="_blank">Try this youtube link Funkman!</a></p>

[FUNKMAN]

<strong>Furtherman</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>FUNKMAN</strong> wrote:<br />i can't view this thing. if i click on the link i get an AOL Dialup popup asking me if i want to connect. if i open a seperate window and go to the page it still won't play...&nbsp; boohoo <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckP8msIgMYE" target="_blank">Try this youtube link Funkman!</a></p><p>Furtherman,</p><p>has anyone told you lately that you are the best!</p><p>Thanks and very cool video. i thought it was on the seabed to the right right below/beside the rock. it almost looks like there is some &quot;not totally clear&quot; are there like the way the creature in predator looked</p><p>but man was i way off</p>

[TheMojoPin]

So what is the octopus rule that this thread promised us?

[Furtherman]

Obey.

[Furtherman]

http://starbulletin.com/2007/07/05/news/art3.jpg

Octosquid will eat your soul.

What appears to be a half-squid, half-octopus specimen found off Keahole Point on the Big Island remains unidentified today and could possibly be a new species, said local biologists. (http://starbulletin.com/2007/07/05/news/story03.html)

[Marc with a c]

you should start more threads.

[weekapaugjz]

you should start more threads.

i agree.

[ChimneyFish]

Very good thread to revive.

Some really amazing stuff.
I just spent an hour looking at octopus and shark vids.:tongue:

[cougarjake13]

damn thats fucking scary


the ocean dwellers will one day rise up and take back their planet

[lleeder]

Fuck those octopussies, Humans Rule!!!!!!!!

[Furtherman]

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/content/articles/2007/06/29/local_news/local02.jpg

Scientists all agog at 'octosquid' (http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2007/06/29/local_news/local02.prtDon't)

[mendyweiss]

http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/content/articles/2007/06/29/local_news/local02.jpg

Scientists all agog at 'octosquid' (http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/articles/2007/06/29/local_news/local02.prtDon't)

Love your weird science/nature threads !!! Keep em coming

[ChimneyFish]

the ocean dwellers will one day rise up and take back their planet

We can only hope.

[topless_mike]

Im not buying it.&nbsp; The skin is smooth and as it &quot;blends&quot; into the plant or whatever, you can see that its not smooth anymore.&nbsp; I call bullshit and photoshop

i can tell you first hand its not bs.

octopi are masters of disguise.
they need to be, since they are hunters.

[topless_mike]

<p>Years ago I either read or heard a story about an octopus that may or may not be true.&nbsp; I guess it is sort of my own urban myth.&nbsp; </p><p>I was just about to write it but I did a google search and found the story... it's more commonly known than I had thought:</p><p><strong>I saw a documentary not long ago, where the researchers couldn't understand why some of the specimens were disappearing. They set up a video camera then left for the night. The culprit was their octopus, which left its tank, crawled along to the tank of the missing creatures, climbed in, ate its supper then crawled out again, and made its way back to its own tank. The fact that it was already well-fed, and it waited until the researchers had gone for the night, proves that it wasn't driven by hunger, and it knew when to go on the hunt...</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The way I heard it was a guy in an apartment had two tanks - one with fish, one with an octopus - and couldn't understand why his fish was disappearing.&nbsp; Thinking the cleaning lady was stealing fish, he set up a video camera...</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>True or not, I bet it is possible.</p>

being a reef keeper and swf maniac, i know quite a bit.
its quite possible. anyone that has kept an octo in their tank knows that it must be sealed 100%, or the octo will get out. no bullshit on that. most people keep 5lb weights on the front lid of their canopy (top) because the octo will push it open to get out.

only problem i have is for the octo to travel that far across the table to retrive the fish- their bodies are greatly supported by water.. it is possible, but im leery on it.

[topless_mike]

<p>I'd be sleeping with a fucking speargun if I was that guy.&nbsp; If that Octopus tried that with me I'd cut of 2 of his tentacles and put him back in the tank just to send him a message.&nbsp; </p><p>Yakuza that 8-armed motherfucker!&nbsp; Henry the Octopus must die!</p>

dont worry about an octo.
you need to worry about a humboldt squid. they will royally fcuk you up. they grow to about 6ft long, 70-90 lbs, and have no fear about going after a human. dig around, im sure you'll find some video on it.

another master of disguise is the stonefish.
you really dont want to find one of these guys by accident.

[ChimneyFish]

dont worry about an octo.
you need to worry about a humboldt squid. they will royally fcuk you up. they grow to about 6ft long, 70-90 lbs, and have no fear about going after a human. dig around, im sure you'll find some video on it.


I'm pretty sure they had a show on Discovery on those a couple years back.
It was filmed around Baja Mexico.
One the divers literally made his own custome dive suit, that pretty much amounted to squid armor.
That's how dangerous and aggressive these things can be.
If their beak punctures your ribcage, it's "over, Johnny".

[topless_mike]

they actually had one not too long ago.
this wacko wanted to swim with these things, so he put on a chain-mail suit.
sure enough, they were going after him, and the teeth on the suckers was still getting through.

and you are right, if the beak reaches you, you have a problem.
that beak will snap a finger in half without thinking about it.

[Furtherman]

Octopus unearths 900-year-old hidden treasure (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=470566&in_page_id=1811)

It is a story that combines all the great mysteries and exciting discoveries of the sea – an octopus hauled onto a fishing boat with valuable ancient pottery attached to its suckers.

Conjuring up visions of ancient mariners and sailing ships laden with fabulous wares, Korean fisherman Kim Yong-Chul pulled up more octopus, most of which had shards of pottery attached to their tentacles.

Now the chance discovery is being hailed as one of the great undersea treasure discoveries of modern times.


http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_02/2OctopusL_468x315.jpg

[Furtherman]

A leading indicator of octopus intelligence is that they get bored. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/15/AR2006081500916.html)

Out of hunger for amusement -- not necessarily food or freedom -- they can maneuver out of tanks whose covers have been held down by 40 pounds of concrete blocks, and climb into the tanks of other sea creatures and eat them. They can die of boredom -- by climbing out, but not finding a tank to climb back in. Perhaps recalling the suicide note of British actor George Sanders: "Goodbye. I am leaving because I am bored."

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2006/08/16/PH2006081600358.jpg
Mr. Potato Head sacrificed!

[Furtherman]

The Indonesian Mimic Octopus

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/H8oQBYw6xxc&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/H8oQBYw6xxc&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Aristotle didn't have a high opinion of the octopus. "The octopus is a stupid creature," he wrote, "for it will approach a man's hand if it be lowered in the water." Twenty-four centuries later, this "stupid" creature is enjoying a much better reputation. YouTube is loaded with evidence of what some might call octopus intelligence. One does an uncanny impression of a flounder. Another mimics coral before darting away from a pushy camera. A third slips its arms around a jar, unscrews it, and dines on the crab inside. Scientific journals publish research papers on octopus learning, octopus personality, octopus memory. Now the octopus has even made it into the pages of the journal Consciousness and Cognition (along with its fellow cephalopods the squid and the cuttlefish). The title: "Cephalopod consciousness: behavioral evidence." (http://www.slate.com/id/2192211)

[cougarjake13]

so how long before the squid invasion ???

[dino_electropolis]

shouldnt this be titled "Octopi Rule".....or even "Octopodes Rule"



just sayin.

[Furtherman]

shouldnt this be titled "Octopi Rule".....or even "Octopodes Rule"

No, you're right. BUT.. if anything, it is a foreshadowing of the Earth's future. When Man Rule comes to an end, and Octopus Rule takes over.

[Furtherman]

Octopi have 8 tentacles.

But MONSTER OCTOPI CAN HAVE UP TO 96!

That's enough to grab you, your family, your pets, your neighbors, a few squirrels and any eyewitnesses, and drag you all down to the depths below.

http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/octopus_w_96_tentacles_1.jpg

Monster octopi with scores of extra tentacles (http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/07/monster-octopi-with-scores-of-extra-tentacles/)

[topless_mike]

No, you're right. BUT.. if anything, it is a foreshadowing of the Earth's future. When Man Rule comes to an end, and Octopus Rule takes over.


http://www.pinktentacle.com/images/octopus_w_96_tentacles_1.jpg


http://img.metro.co.uk/i/pix/2007/11/growthmanR_450x594.jpg

it may be happening already...

[Furtherman]

Otto the octopus wreaks havoc (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328480/Otto-the-octopus-wrecks-havoc.html)

Otto had been annoyed by the bright light shining into his aquarium and had discovered he could extinguish it by climbing onto the rim of his tank and squirting a jet of water in its direction.

Once we saw him juggling the hermit crabs in his tank, another time he threw stones against the glass damaging it. And from time to time he completely re-arranges his tank to make it suit his own taste better - much to the distress of his fellow tank inhabitants.

[topless_mike]

Otto the octopus wreaks havoc (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328480/Otto-the-octopus-wrecks-havoc.html)

told you. they are smarter than presidential candidates, too.

[Furtherman]

Oh those crazy eights are at it again!

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Staff at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium say the trickster who flooded their offices with sea water was armed. Eight-armed, to be exact.

They blame the soaking they discovered Tuesday morning on the aquarium's resident two-spotted octopus, a tiny female known for being curious and gregarious with visitors. The octopus apparently tugged on a valve and that allowed hundreds of gallons of water to overflow its tank.

Aquarium spokeswoman Randi Parent says no sea life was harmed by the flood, but the brand new, ecologically designed floors might be damaged by the water.

[robot artist]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/8968197642.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

[Coach]

Artist rendition of an evolved Octopus:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/dx20050303iw_Sarkt_the_illithid_sorcerer.jpg

[Furtherman]

March 19, 2009—It's about as unlikely as capturing a "fossil sneeze," but researchers have found the second known set of octopus fossils, a new study says. The five well-preserved fossils were found in 95-million-year-old rocks in Lebanon. (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/090319-octopus-fossil-picture.html)

While none of the 200 to 300 modern octopus species have been found in fossil form, the ancient creatures look indistinguishable from living species, Fuchs and colleagues note.


Video: Octopus Glides Through Plastic Maze (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/01/070116-octopus-video.html)

[Furtherman]

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/8/2009/12/500x_091214-coconut-octopus-02.jpg

Tools aren't just for vertebrates anymore. The veined octopus has been spotted lugging around coconut shells to serve as mobile shelters, the first time scientists have observed tool use in an invertebrate species.

Humans living on the Indonesian coast frequently discard halved coconut shells in the ocean, and it turns out that their eight-legged neighbors have been making use of them. Researchers have filmed veined octopi, Amphioctopus marginatus, moving the shell halves by placing their bodies inside the hollowed-out portion, draping their legs over the edges, and bringing the shells along for the ride. When the coconut-carrying octopus feels threatened, it will pull the half shell over its body (or sometimes pulls two halves of a whole coconut over itself), and wait inside their armored home until the threat passes.

Veined octopi have been seen hiding out inside coconut shells before, but researchers hadn't realized that the creatures were deliberately carting the shells around for this purpose. Marine biologist Julian Finn of Melbourne's Museum Victoria caught a lucky glimpse of a veined octopus carrying and using the shells, and has since filmed four octopi doing the same thing.

Finn and other researchers argue that this is the first reported use of tools by an invertebrate species, as this is a sophisticated, costly behavior in which an animal manipulates an object for future plans. While others argue that it does not fit the standard definition of tool use, since the octopus isn't using the object to act on another object, it may still require a sophisticated level of cognition, and we should investigate what makes such foresight possible.

Check out this article for some great video:
Octopus Uses Coconut Shells as Portable Armor (http://io9.com/5426109/octopus-uses-coconut-shells-as-portable-armor)

[TheMojoPin]

Please just tell me what the goddamned octopus rule is.

[JohnCharles]

Have eight of everything.

[Furtherman]

Please just tell me what the goddamned octopus rule is.

They've fashioned armor. Once they make weapons, you'll find out soon enough.

[Death Metal Moe]

They've fashioned armor. Once they make weapons, you'll find out soon enough.

As long as my dry ass stays on land, no I won't. Fuck those Octopus jerkoffs.

[topless_mike]

As long as my dry ass stays on land, no I won't. Fuck those Octopus jerkoffs.

thats the thing. we know that they are testing us humans and are currently planning a way to melt the ice caps, flood the land, and crush us all.

[Furtherman]

Octopuses excited by high definition television (HDTV) (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8573000/8573449.stm)

See? Just like us. Watch the video. I did the same thing when I saw my first high definition TV.

[StanUpshaw]

As soon as it's remotely feasible, I'm getting a fucking octopus as a pet.

[Furtherman]

I had to rename this thread. The plural of octupus is actually octopods, not octopi, because it's Greek, not Latin.

[StanUpshaw]

As usage is what defines language, "octopi" or "octopuses" is perfectly acceptable.

But if you're trying to go by the book, I'm pretty sure "octopodes" is the correct technical spelling.

[StanUpshaw]

http://i44.tinypic.com/wl85nd.png

http://books.google.com/books?id=2yJusP0vrdgC&pg=PA678

[Furtherman]

Interesting. Thanks for that StanUpshaw!

I'm going to go with Octopods. I'm bringing it back.

[Furtherman]

Octopus steals diver's camera and goes for a swim.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5DyBkYKqnM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5DyBkYKqnM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

[Furtherman]

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGMT99i00M4&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mGMT99i00M4&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

[underdog]

Octopus steals diver's camera and goes for a swim.

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5DyBkYKqnM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5DyBkYKqnM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

That creeped me out so much for some reason.

[Furtherman]

Live OctoCam! (http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor/octocam)



The giant Pacific octopus is one of our most popular animal residents. Many people plan their visits to coincide with octopus feeding times, and they love to watch and learn more about these intelligent, curious animals.

Now our Web visitors can watch our resident octopus, too - and also get a look at some of the visitors who are watching him!

[Furtherman]

Weeks ago I read about this octopus and even posted a draft to the story in this thread, but I decided to delete it, thinking it was just a little too much and nothing would come of the story.


I was wronger than Hitler.



Germans shell-shocked by oracle octopus (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6651FI20100706?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r4:c 0.075862:b35500146:z0)

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100706&t=2&i=147765344&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-07-06T113554Z_01_BTRE6650SXW00_RTROPTP_0_SOCCER-WORLD-OCTOPUS

[Willmore]

Weeks ago I read about this octopus and even posted a draft to the story in this thread, but I decided to delete it, thinking it was just a little too much and nothing would come of the story.


I was wronger than Hitler.



Germans shell-shocked by oracle octopus (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6651FI20100706?loomia_ow=t0:s0:a49:g43:r4:c 0.075862:b35500146:z0)

http://www.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100706&t=2&i=147765344&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-07-06T113554Z_01_BTRE6650SXW00_RTROPTP_0_SOCCER-WORLD-OCTOPUS

That pus is dead meat.

[Furtherman]

Paul is not available for freelancing therefore all major decisions will now be made by my new german hermit crab, Hanz.

http://faculty.kutztown.edu/friehauf/costa_rica/animal_photos/hermit-crab.gif

[Furtherman]

A moment of silence for an eight legged salute.

Paul the Octopus of World Cup fame dies. (http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5729083)

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0712/soc_g_octopaul_300.jpg

Paul the Octopus, the tentacled tipster who fascinated football fans by correctly predicting results at this year's World Cup, died Tuesday.

Paul the Octopus, who went a perfect 8 for 8 in World Cup picks before retiring, died on Tuesday at the aquarium in Germany where he lived.Paul had reached the octopus old age of 2½ years and died in his tank on Tuesday morning in an aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, spokeswoman Ariane Vieregge said.

Paul seemed to be in good shape when he was checked late Monday, but he did not make it through the night. He died of natural causes, Vieregge added.

[A.J.]

Reports are that Paul will be cremated.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/A_fried_calamari.jpg

[Judge Smails]

Reports are that Paul will be cremated.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/A_fried_calamari.jpg

Will they be serving that plate of squid at the octopus' wake?

Fuckin' starvin' ova here.

[Furtherman]

<embed allowfullscreen="true" height="334" width="560" src="http://www.sciencefriday.com/embed/video/10397.swf" />


Whoa.

[Furtherman]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317566_10150320172324032_642649031_7896020_9731294 65_n.jpg

[Judge Smails]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317566_10150320172324032_642649031_7896020_9731294 65_n.jpg

Patrick is a Sea Star. Just sayin'.

[Furtherman]

Patrick is a Sea Star. Just sayin'.

Patrick always wants to fit in.

[cougarjake13]

Patrick always wants to fit in.

works for me

[Furtherman]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FjQr3lRACPI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[cougarjake13]

and so it begins

[Furtherman]

<object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-LTWFnGmeg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-LTWFnGmeg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></embed></object>

[CountryBob]

<object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-LTWFnGmeg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t-LTWFnGmeg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></embed></object>

so cool!

[Furtherman]

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17hyv1pz9jmxnjpg/original.jpg

[Furtherman]

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/44791802" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

The octopus is highly intelligent and extremely clever, but researchers in South Africa were still surprised to witness, on videotape, one of the mollusks stealing a bait canister that had been secured to a chain in front of an underwater camera.

The octopus managed this incredible feat by untying three cable ties, while fighting off a pajama catshark. (The octopus appears at the 1:00 mark of the video posted below, and the shark soon afterward.)

The footage is from earlier this season but science writers only recently began to reveal the nature of the University of Cape Town research, which involves a study of the pea-green waters of False Bay, and the type of critters that exist in a coastal region thought to be over-exploited.

Of the great octopus caper, research assistant Lauren de Vos told the Cape Times: "We were flummoxed by how clever they are, smart enough to un-clip the bait canister which is not easy, and we've had several pieces of equipment stolen. We've got it all on film."

The cameras, placed in front of baited canisters, run continuously for an hour at a time and allow scientists to document species and behaviors. The project has been ongoing for about three years.

Several types of sharks, including a great white, are among the predator species to have been tallied, though the larger sharks do not appear in the accompanying video.

The project is designed, De Vos said, "to get an understanding of the conservation status of these species."

What researchers did not count on was having to deal with thieving octopi.