Alien Creature? Or From Earth?
Exploring the Fascinating World of the Octopus
I want to try something new with this bi-weekly newsletter. My passion for wildlife is what sparked my interest in tackling broader environmental issues like climate change and biodiversity loss. So, I’d like to dedicate this space to spotlighting an animal that’s as fascinating as it is important. This week, let’s dive into a creature so otherworldly that some believe it might not even belong on Earth. With 9 brains, the intelligence of a 3-year-old, and a size range from less than an inch to over 18 feet, it’s a true marvel of nature. Want another hint? It has 8 arms. That’s right, I’m talking about the octopus.
Spotlight on the Octopus
Let’s start with the topic of growing interest surrounding these unique creatures. Consciousness. With only a few animals on Earth possessing this complex cognitive function (including humans, obviously), octopi happen to be one of them.
Their consciousness is argued by scientists who believe octopi possess self-awareness and the ability to experience emotions. This has fueled ethical debates around octopus farming, as companies explore sustainable farming methods for food. Critics argue that these solitary animals suffer in captivity and that industrial farming would be inhumane. Instead, they call for sustainable seafood practices that exclude these creatures from our plates.
Octopi are also masters of camouflage, capable of changing the color and texture of their skin in an instant to evade predators or communicate. Some species, like the mimic octopus, take this a step further by imitating other marine animals, such as lionfish, to deter threats.
With over 300 species of octopus, these animals inhabit diverse marine environments, from shallow coral reefs to the deep ocean floor. The common octopus is one of the most widely recognized species (particularly in aquariums), found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide. Different species can often be distinguished by their size, color patterns, and habitat preferences. For example, the blue-ringed octopus is recognizable by its glowing rings, while the giant Pacific octopus can weigh over 150 pounds. Octopuses are also semelparous, meaning they reproduce only once in their lifetime. After mating, females lay thousands of eggs, which they guard and care for until they hatch—often sacrificing their lives in the process (talk about great mothers!)
Like most animals on Earth at this point, climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing threaten the delicate balance of marine ecosystems they help maintain. The octopus isn’t just a fascinating creature—it’s a vital part of our planet’s biodiversity. Its story reminds us of the intricate connections in nature and the importance of protecting the ecosystems that sustain life.
Check out this cool video of an octopus escaping out of a box with a 1-inch diameter hole. If you ask me, this looks like an alien from the planet Octogalactus, not an animal from Earth.
As a hobbyist artist, I want to share my artwork here inspired by the octopus. You can either appreciate my artwork and be inspired to also create similar abstract pieces, or even roast my artwork.
The plethora of colors here represents my imagination of an octopus in the ocean – colorful and vivid. The camouflage ability of the octopus always amazed me. How can a creature evolve to take on so many colors at once? The black organ on the back of my octopus represents the ink sac, though it’s located in the improper place (it should typically be near the gut). You may have also noticed my octopus lacks a mouth, so this octopus will clearly not last very long without the ability to consume food. However, I made sure to include all 8 arms with each obviously having a brain of its own like an octopus in the wild would. The messy colors beneath the purple line at the bottom of the ocean should represent a poorly drawn coral reef. Overall, I’m proud of this one, despite it not being the best work of art.
I hope this week’s newsletter taught you a little something new about the octopus. This alien-like creature serves as a reminder of the perfection of nature’s creations.