I was enjoying my morning swim today at the Jumeirah Open Beach, Dubai, when I overheard some kids shouting and pointing at something that scared them. The large object was slowly moving near the shore and you could see its slimy, shiny head protruding above the water surface. To my surprise it was not a large squid but an octopus. It was a rare Blanket Octopus!
Immediately, I borrowed a bucket from a beach guest, cautioned the kids and other beach goers to stay clear of the tentacles and the ink squirting. I carefully guided the octopus inside the bucket, allowed the curious ones to take a closer glimpse (and also give me some time to grab and return my phone to take a photo). I swam and floated the bucket to a deeper portion of the beach to allow the octopus to swim back to the open sea on its own. It was upon release from the bucket that I was able to see its large. deep red-colored skin blanket. It swam back to deeper water waving to me its wide skin cape!
Blanket octopuses, Tremoctopus sp. are free swimming cephalopods that do not spend time at the sea floor like other octopus species. They conduct hunting and feeding on the open sea surface, mainly attacking smaller fish.
They got the name from the long skin cape attached to its dorsal and dorsolateral tentacles. The blanket extension can only be observed on the females. It serves as a defense mechanism to allow it to look larger and sacrifice portions of it when attacked by large predators. Yes, these octopuses can also squirt ink when threatened! The female blanket octopus can grow up to 2 meters in length, while the males are quite miniscule, only reaching a mere 2.4cm. Another unique adaptation, is the ability of male octopus and juvenile females to grab a poisonous tentacle of a "Portuguese man-of-war" and use it as a defensive whip!
Octopuses are known for their intelligence, blanket octopuses can learn and recall, as well as mimic behaviors (for protection and hunting) exhibited by other octopuses. They can also show varying temperaments and preferences towards different behaviors and creatures. Simply Amazing!
Truly glad to have encountered this cephalopod and was able to safely release it back to the open sea.
Awesome creature! Awesome Creator!
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