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Tuesday, December 30, 2008

2009 Octopus Calendar on Etsy.com

What better way to ring in the new year than with a little octopus lovin'? Check out this cute Calendar I found from MateoAndIsabel on Etsy.com. You can get your daily octopus fix 365 days a year!



Product Description
Mateo and Isabel love octopuses, who doesn't?

This 2009 calendar measures 5.5 by 8.5 inches and is printed on recycled chip board with a Gocco printer. Enjoy this cute green octopus all year long or gift it to someone you love.

P.S.
Every one is a little different, it's the charm of Gocco!

$6 each.

They also have this funky little octopus "spoke card" available. If you no longer ride a bike, I'm sure you could find some other nifty use for it. $2 each.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

More Octopus Tattoos

Here are a few more inked ceph-lovers I found recently on BMEZine.com.

Beautiful detail on this upper-arm octopus. I love how the texturing on the skin is so lifelike. The depth of the tentacles and detailed work around the eye is entrancing! I can't stop staring at it!


The colors in this little octopus really pop. It's simple, yet quite eye catching.



I know, I know...this is a little bit questionable under the title of "Octopus Tattoos", but hey, it's kinda' cool. This ceph-lover just happens to love his with a little rice and seaweed. It's a fun and unique design!

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Happy Holidays, Cephalophiles!



Happy Christmas from Death by Divas and Everything Octopus!!!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Octopus Greeting Cards on Etsy.com

I just found a new "favorite seller" on Etsy.com - SmackofJellyfish. In my hunt for great octopus stationary, I came across her shop, which features a stellar collection of greeting cards, and yes, there is an octopus option.





Product Description
Show someone the depth of your love with this lovely little card. "If you were an octopus..." it reads on the outside; the inside continues: "I would grow eight arms to hold you."

Great earth tones and a charcoal sketch of an octopus adorn the front of the card. The back includes fantastic facts about the smartest known invertebrate!

This card is 4.875" square, and comes with a 5" square envelope.

There are more to come in this series of love card

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Giant Pacific Octopus Tried to Eat Sub

This is an oldie, but goodie!

From: Dailyrecod.co.uk, January 16, 2006

Written by: Cara Page

Giant octopus tries to devour a submarine

A GIANT octopus almost ate a submarine when the £75,000 craft invaded its territory.

The 18-foot sea monster wrapped its tentacles around the remote-controlled sub's cable and hauled itself towards it.

Then it grabbed the vehicle and tried to bite through its metal skin.

The sub's amazed controllers used its thrusters to fire sand and grit from the seabed at the octopus, forcing it to let go.

And when they got the vehicle to the surface, they found two pieces of tentacle, each as thick as a man's arm, still attached to it.

The 80lb octopus pounced as the ROV (remotely operated vehicle) tried to move a cable on the seabed.

Chris Tarmy, whose company supplied the sub, said yesterday: "The octopus was obviously irritated by the ROV. It was a terrifying sight as it came galloping along the cable to attack.

"These creatures have terrific jaws and the sub's surface pilot was very worried that we could have lost it. But as the octopus engulfed the ROV with its tentacles, the pilot slammed its thrusters into reverse.

"Luckily, after a bit of a battle, the octopus let go.

"When we got the ROV back to the surface, it had these two big bits of tentacle stuck to it."

The 110lb, four-foot sub, supplied by Hampshire firm Seaeye, was working off Vancouver Island in Canada when it was attacked.

It suffered no major damage and experts say the octopus's lost tentacles will grow back.

The Giant Pacific Octopus can grow as big as 600lb. The creature is known for its intelligence and can unscrew jars to get at food.

Chris joked: "Perhaps the octopus" fancied the ROV. I suppose it can get lonely down there."

Friday, December 19, 2008

Octopus Cups for your Kitchen or Bathroom

Now that I own a home, I have been spending an inordinate amount of time online looking for cool octopus housewares. I came across these little gems on one of my favroite sites, UncommonGoods.com.



Item description: A modern interpretation of the classic mint julep cup, these whimsical black and white cups feature a bas relief octopi on each side. With a flared shape and detailed designs at the top and bottom, these sweet and sturdy stoneware cups are quite roomy as drinking glasses and will also be wonderful for holding toothbrushes, flowers, pencils or coins. Available in black or white. Designed in Brooklyn. Made in China. Sold individually. $20 each.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Giant Pacific Octopus vs. Mr. Potato Head Video



Video description: By providing simple objects, like Mr. Potato Head and a plastic container, the octopus can practice a wide range of natural behaviors, such as foraging for food and investigating new items that look, smell, or feel different.

Check out our earlier post on the Giant Pacific Octopus to learn more about this fascinating species.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Species: Giant Pacific Octopus

Sometimes called the North Pacific Giant Octopus, The Giant Pacific Octopus lives along the coastal North Pacific region from California to Alaska and even to certain islands of Japan. It is the largest and longest living species of octopus. While most species have a lifespan of approximately two years, the Giant Pacific octopus has an average lifespan of four years. Like other species, they die shortly after breeding, with the female starving herself during the brooding period.

The most distinguishing feature of the Giant Pacific Octopus is its size. The average adult Giant Pacific octopus weighs 33 pounds and has an arm span of 14 feet, although some weigh as much as 100 pounds, and it has even been reported that one specimen weighed as much as 600 pounds, with an arm span of 30 feet.

When at rest, the Giant Pacific Octopus is a reddish-brown color. Like other species of octopus, Giant Pacific Octopus can contract or expand tiny pigments, known as chromatophores, in its cells and change the color of its skin to blend into its environment.

The Giant Pacific octopus feeds mostly on shrimp, crab, abalone, clams, fish, and scallops. There is also evidence to support that these enormous octopuses feed on sharks. To further support the belief that the Giant Pacific Octopus feeds on sharks, consumed shark carcasses have been found in the middens on the octopus.

Highly intelligent creatures, Giant Pacific Octopuses have learned to open jars, mimic other octopuses, and solve mazes in lab tests. Their population numbers are unknown, and they do not currently appear on any lists of endangered or vulnerable animals. However, they are sensitive to environmental conditions and may be suffering from high pollution levels in their range.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

300 Octopuses Stretch 2,400 Tiny Arms in Dana Point

From: LA Times, December 6, 2008

Written by: Susannah Rosenblatt

Even eight arms may not be enough to keep up with this brood: After laying eggs two months ago, an octopus at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point has 300 tiny hatchlings. The rice-grain-size baby octopuses have spent their first days of life floating around their tank and eating brine shrimp, said chief aquarium biologist Julianne E. Steers.

Now 4 millimeters long, the creatures can grow up to 3 feet and live for about two years. Their mother, a two-spot octopus native to the California coast, is nearing the end of her life cycle. The species is named for the circular blue spots on the sides of the head.

Steers caught the hardy two-spot in September 2007 under a scientific permit to use it in educational programs at the institute.

She didn't know if the female's eggs were fertilized, and the octopus has had no male companionship since she arrived at the nonprofit institute, which is dedicated to ocean education. The creature can store male sperm for a year or more.

In the wild, just a handful of the young octopuses would survive; Steers is hoping that about 30 of the institute's hatchlings will make it to adulthood, when they will graduate to eating crabs and other crustaceans.

Their mother -- unnamed, as are all the animals at the institute -- tended the eggs faithfully, cleaning and aerating them, without stopping to feed herself, Steers said.

And she didn't have time for her usual entertainment: unscrewing jars to find treats, dismantling Mrs. Potato Head toys and taking apart Legos.

The hatching began Monday and has continued much of the week, with the mother hovering protectively during the process.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Octopus Jewelry from OctopusMe!

Etsy.com is home to famed seller, OctopusMe, who is known for her unique designs made from real octopuses.

Here's what she has to say about her handmade octopus jewelry:

Life on earth began in the Sea. Organisms from every major group can still be linked to those underwater. These beautiful and amazing creatures should be honored and celebrated...

The Octopus is a symbol of Transformation and Regeneration. Because of its reputation of changing colors to match its backgrounds, the octopus is also known as the Master of Disguise. Octopuses also have the power to regenerate. If an octopus loses an arm in battle it can grow a new one. Some can even detach and arm to distract predators and then grow another! Don't mess with the octopus because they can stun or kill you with one poisonous bite. The poison is called tetrodotoxin which is the same as Fugu, the puffer fish served in Japan. So treat your Octopus with Love!

The octopus used in my jewelry is sushi grade. Items have been hand cast in Sterling Silver unless specified otherwise :)




Sunday, December 7, 2008

Species: Blue-Ringed Octopus



One of the most intriguing octopuses out there is the Blue-ringed Octopus, a beautiful but deadly cephalopod found in the Pacific Ocean. Here are some fascinating about the Blue-ringed Octopus:


  • There are three or four species of blue-ringed octopus; three confirmed and a fourth under study. The three confirmed are the Greater Blue-ringed Octopus, Southern Blue-ringed Octopus, and Blue-lined Octopus.

  • The Blue-ringed Octopus can be found in the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Australia. The Blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa, can be found only in the temperate waters of southern Australia, from southern Western Australia to eastern Victoria at depths ranging from 0-50 m. Hapalochlaena lunulata can be found in shallow reefs and tide pools from northern Australia to Japan, including Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Philippines, and Indonesia and as far west as Sri Lanka at depths ranging from 0-20 m.

  • The species is named for the bright blue rings it bears, but while resting it is a pale brown to light yellow color, depending on surroundings. The blue rings only "light up" when the animal feels threatened.

  • Blue-ringed Octopuses are born the size of a pea and grow to be about as big as a golf ball.

  • These tiny killers are among the most venomous creatures on the planet. Despite the poison they carry, they are very docile and will camouflage themselves until provoked to attack.

  • The octopus produces venom that contains tetrodotoxin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, hyaluronidase, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine, octopamine, taurine, acetylcholine, and dopamine. The major neurotoxin component of Blue-ringed Octopus venom was originally known as maculotoxin, but was later found to be identical to tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin which is also found in pufferfish and cone snails. Tetrodotoxin blocks sodium channels, causing motor paralysis and sometimes respiratory arrest leading to cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. The toxin is created by bacteria in the salivary glands of the octopus.

  • There is no known antidote for their poison, which is powerful enough to kill humans. First aid treatment is pressure on the wound and rescue breathing. It is essential, if rescue breathing is required, that it be continued until the victim begins to breathe, which may be some hours. Hospital treatment involves respiratory assistance until the toxin is washed out of the body.

  • Their diet typically consists of small crab and shrimp, but they may also feed on fish if they can catch them. They pounce on their prey, paralyze them with venom and use their beaks to tear off pieces. They then suck out the flesh from the crustacean's exoskeleton.

  • Blue-ringed octopus females lay only one clutch of about fifty eggs in their lifetime towards the end of Autumn. Eggs are laid then incubated underneath the female's arms for approximately six months, and during this process she will not eat. After the eggs hatch, the female dies, and the new offspring will reach maturity and be able to mate by the next year. Like most octopuses, they have a lifespan of approximately two years.

  • The Blue-ringed Octopus lacks an ink sac and has therefore become a common addition to the marine aquarium. Toxicologists strongly disagree with this practice because of the potential danger to people who are unaware of the potentially fatal venom.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Mimic Octopus Imitating a Sea Snake

Youtube user, MarcWildDives has a slew of amazing underwater videos available on his page. One of particular interest is this video featuring a Mimic Octopus imitating a sea snake. Enjoy!


Visit our earlier post to learn more about the Mimic Octopus.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Octopus Jewelry from Amazon.com

I found some delightful goodies on Amazon.com! Below are my personal top picks form Amazon's selection of octopus jewelry. Enjoy!

Octopus Ring. "Sterling Silver / Platinum or 18K Plated Ruby Eye Octopus Ring Create a look that will capture attention! For all the sea and animal lovers out there, this is the ring for you. Designed from sterling silver with your choice of polished platinum or 18K yellow gold plating, it has a setting size of 1"L x 3/4"W and a height of 1/4". Bringing life to its eyes are two faceted round cut 1.5mm rubies. This finger-hugging design is perfect when you really want to make a statement! All weights pertaining to diamond weights are minimum weights. Additionally, please note that many gemstones are treated to enhance their beauty. Click here for important information about gemstone enhancements and special care requirements."



Octopus Earrings. "As of November 15, 2008, this item was out of stock. You may order it but it will take approximately 6-8 weeks for delivery and I cannot promise it before the holidays. FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING HAWAII AND ALASKA! These earrings will be gift wrapped in a beautiful gift bag. In addition, a gift message can be added. Pink Sapphires: 1.86 Ct. Total Weight. Tsavorite Eyes: 0.12 Ct. Total Weight. Diamonds: 0.22 Ct. Total Weight. Matching ring and pendant available as well"






Octopus Necklace. "This image necklace features a purple octopus behind beveled glass and two studs in a beautiful sterling silver setting with design on the back. On a fine sterling silver chain with lobster claw clasp. Carmen de Anguis Jewelry by Angela Pitzker. (Dim: 16 inches long with 3/4 inch pendant)."









Octopus Ring. "This gold plated band supports a russet hued octopus, which is adorned with pave set CZs in shades of champagne, citrine, and bright mandarin sapphire. Two bezel set faux emeralds create hypnotic eyes, and her sparkling her pave tentacles wrap around your finger. This bling brings new meaning to the term "pirate treasure"!"








Octopus Ring. "Generally, undersea creatures aren't associated with glitz and glamour. Our CZ Octopus Ring, however, is a definite exception! This awe inspiring cocktail ring features the chic shape of an octopus, winding his arms around your finger. Only the underside is plain sterling silver; the rest of this ocean dweller is pave coated with faux diamonds. Two bezel set sapphire blue CZs form eyes, bringing a playful element to this statement piece!"

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Octopus Art Available on Binth.com

My never-ending search for octopus housewares sometimes leads me to some pretty fascinating places. After discovering the Octopus Cuddle Pillow on Binth.com, I thought I'd dig a little deeper and see if these purveyors of provocative and colorful designs had any octopus art. BINGO! I love the artwork available on Binth.com  and am excited to share it with fellow cephalophiles. The prints below are available for purchase and range in price from $38 for a 3" x 3" matted, titled, and signed one of a kind print to $48 for a 5.5" x 5.5" matted, titled, and signed one of a kind print.
Octopus art from Binth.com
A one-of-a-kind octopus print for your home!
Every cephalophile loves the gift of octopus art!
Octopus art makes my day!
Couldn't your living room use a little octopus art?
How about some octopus art for your office?
All featured prints are available on Binth.com.

We are in no way affiliated with Binth.com - we just dig their art.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Octopus Species: Mimic Octopus


Appropriately named, this unique species of octopus has a very special skill: it can mimic several different sea creatures. The Mimic Octopus, which grows to about 2 feet in length, is found in the tropical seas of South East Asia and was not officially discovered until 1998. Like any other octopus, the Mimic Octopus is an intelligent mollusk with a boneless body, eight arms, each with two rows of suction cups. It catches pray with its arms and kills with it's hard beak, or paralyzes prey with a nerve poison, then sucks out the flesh.

While all octopuses have the ability to change color and even texture to hide among rocks and blend in with the sea floor, the Mimic Octopus actually impersonates other animals. The long list of creatures it has been seen masquerading as includes jellyfish, mantis shrimp, sea snakes, brittle stars, and lionfish. 

It is believed that the Mimic Octopus developed its imitation technique to adapt to their environment, where they are prey as well as predator. Becoming a "poisonous" creature is often the best defense from being eaten by the many carnivorous sea creatures that patrol the waters. Mimicry also helps the Mimic Octopus sneak up on prey that would normally flee at the sight of an octopus; it can imitate a crab as a potential mate, only to devour the "suitor" it bamboozled.


Saturday, November 15, 2008

Octopus Cuddle Pillow

In my search for fun octopus goodies to decorate my home with (and share with you) I found this snazzy octopus pillow on Binth.com.

"Original, modern designs screen-printed with water-based ink on organic linen - our pillows are truly something good to cuddle. Hand sewn in the USA and filled with down. 16"x16". Soft white organic linen, and down insert. $72"
If I had $72 to blow on an octopus pillow, this would be the one!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Baby Octopus Video

This video features footage taken by a diver off the coast of La Jolla, California. The video was shot in January of 2008, when the water temperature was about 52 degrees Fahrenheit. ScubaDubaDive, who filmed and posted the video also included some very useful octopus info in the video's description. He's got more great footage available on his Youtube channel, which I definitely recommend checking out!



Thursday, November 13, 2008

Octopus Cake Pan by NordicWare

For all you bakers out there, liven up your kitchen with this uber-cute octopus cake pan by Noridcware. I'm not so big on baking cake, but I sure do love eating cake. I'm sure this would be a smash hit with kids too!

The octopus pan boasts 5-star user reviews as well.  It would make a rad gift for the octopus-lover on your Christmas list.

I don't know about you, but anywhere I can add a little octopus in my life, I like to do so!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Sugarlily Octopus Stationary

I just found some super-cute and inexpensive octopus stationary. I like that you can add a little octopus into the mundane tasks of everyday life. Ya' know, instead of just writing the old "to-do list" you get to write an "octo-do list" with the help of a smiley green cephalopod. 


It's available for $8 at Sugarlily.net
Wouldn't this make a cute Christmas gift? 

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Octopuses Have "Living Ancestor", Part II

From: news.bbc.co.uk 

Written by: Mark Kinver, Science and environment reporter

'Unprecedented project'

The deep-sea octopus study, along with dozens of other projects, form part of the census's fourth progress report, which will be presented at the World Conference on Marine Biology, which begins in Valencia, Spain, on Tuesday. 

The overarching objectives of the global collaboration between CoML's scientists include:

  • Advancing technology for discoveries
  • Organising knowledge about marine life, and making it accessible
  • Measuring effects of human activities on ocean life
  • Providing the foundation for scientifically based policies

Dr O'Dor said that the main focus of the CoML for the remaining two years was to "synthesise" the data.

"Many of our projects have already completed their fieldwork and we have a lot of information," he observed.

CoML RESEARCH RESULTS
Tag receivers (Image: Paul Winchell)
An array of receivers in the Pacific Ocean reveal fish migration routes

"What we are now trying to do is to bring all that information together in a form that allows the public to understand how much we have learned about the ocean and what lives in it."

As far as improving our understanding of life beneath the waves, Dr O'Dor said: "It has been successful beyond what I imagined when I first became involved.

"It will provide a baseline. We are not going to know everything about what is happening within the oceans, but we have samplings of most marine habitats.

"We are moving into this period of global warming, which is resulting in the acidification of the oceans, melting of the polar ice cap.

"We can use the first census as a benchmark to see what happens in the oceans over the next decade or more."

Meeting formally for the first time at the five-day gathering in Valencia will be the CoML's Science Council, which will take an overview of the 10-year Census.

"Over the past few years, there has been huge public interest in biodiversity because there is a legitimate concern about the changes being caused by humans," commented Patricia Miloslavich, the Census's co-senior scientist.

"The Science Council will (consider) what people have said about areas that have not been explored or taxonomic groups that have been overlooked in the past," she told BBC News.

"We have had this first census that has given outstanding and amazing results for many ecosystems and regions.

"But now that we have been able to identify where there are some gaps, we would like to explore these areas."

Dr Miloslavich added that the Science Council will also develop the objectives of the second census, which will run from 2010 until 2020.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Octopuses Share "Living Ancestor", Part I

From: news.bbc.co.uk
Written by: Mark Kinver, Science and environment reporter

Many of the world's deep-sea octopuses evolved from a common ancestor, whose closest living relative still exists in the Southern Ocean, a study has shown.

Researchers suggest that the creatures evolved after being driven to other ocean basins 30 million years ago by nutrient-rich and salty currents.

The findings form part of a decade-long global research programme to learn more about life in the world's oceans.

The first Census of Marine Life (CoML) is set to be completed in late 2010.

The project, which began back in 2000, involves more than 2,000 scientists from 82 nations.

The research into the evolution of deep-sea octopuses was part of a programme called the Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML), explained Ron O'Dor, CoML's co-senior scientist.

"Many of these octopuses were collected from the deep sea by a number of the CoML's different projects," he told BBC News.


"All of that material was brought together and made available to Dr Jan Strugnell, a biologist at Queen's University Belfast, and she used this material to carry out DNA studies.

"She was looking at the relationship between these different deep-sea octopuses and how they originated.

(Right) Octopus specimens collected by Census of Marine Life researchers.

"She has been able to trace the timeline for their distribution back 30 million years to a common ancestor."

The species could all be traced back to a shallow-water octopus that lived in the Southern Ocean. Today, the creature's closest living relative (Megaleledone setebos) can still be found in the icy waters around Antarctica.

Dr O'Dor added that Dr Strugnell's work also enabled her to identify how changes in the region's ocean played a pivotal role in the development of the new species, especially the emergence of a "thermohaline expressway".

"When you get an increase in sea ice, fresh water forms ice crystals and leaves behind high-salinity, high-oxygen water, which is denser than the surrounding sea water, so it sinks," he explained.


 We can use the first census as a benchmark to see what happens in the oceans over the next decade or more 

Dr Ron O'Dor,
CoML's co-senior scientist

"It gets mixed by sea currents and flows into all of the deepest parts of the ocean.

"At the time this process started, there was no oxygen at the bottom of the ocean, so it brought oxygen into these areas, and we can now see that the octopuses moved out from the Antarctic into deeper water."

Dr Strugnell's work, supported by the UK's Antarctic Funding Initiative (AFI) and the National Environment Research Council (Nerc), also showed how the creatures adapted to the new deep-sea environment.

One example was the loss of their ink sacs, because there was no need for the defence mechanism in the pitch black waters.

As well as being one of the CoML's highlights, the research is also being published in the journal Cladistics on Tuesday.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

BBC's Planet Earth features Octopuses

I just finished watching the entire BBC Planet Earth series and all I can say is, "Wow!" The series explores all aspects of our planet with magnificent film footage, enjoyable and educational narration, and a beautiful orchestral score. It was absolutely incredible from start to finish!

One of the fascinating creatures that our planet houses is the ever-elusive octopus. The Planet Earth camera crew caught some great footage of our favorite little guys in the "Shallow Seas" and "Ocean Deep" episodes. Other cephs get lovin' too - the vampire squid, common squid, nautilus, and cuttlefish all got screen time.

The BBC website has fact pages about some of the octopuses featured in the series, the mysterious Dumbo Octopus and the Giant Pacific Octopus. Go check 'em out!

Because I'm still in awe and not truly doing the DVD justice, here's a spot-on review by Jeff Shannon found on Amazon.com:

As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced. Following the similarly monumental achievement of The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, this astonishing 11-part BBC series is brilliantly narrated by Sir David Attenborough and sensibly organized so that each 50-minute episode covers a specific geographical region and/or wildlife habitat (mountains, caves, deserts, shallow seas, seasonal forests, etc.) until the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you'll ever experience from the comforts of home. The premiere episode, "From Pole to Pole," serves as a primer for things to come, placing the entire series in proper context and giving a general overview of what to expect from each individual episode. Without being overtly political, the series maintains a consistent and subtle emphasis on the urgent need for ongoing conservation, best illustrated by the plight of polar bears whose very behavior is changing (to accommodate life-threatening changes in their fast-melting habitat) in the wake of global warming--a phenomenon that this series appropriately presents as scientific fact. With this harsh reality as subtext, the series proceeds to accentuate the positive, delivering a seemingly endless variety of natural wonders, from the spectacular mating displays of New Guinea's various birds of paradise to a rare encounter with Siberia's nearly-extinct Amur Leopards, of which only 30 remain in the wild.

That's just a hint of the marvels on display. Accompanied by majestic orchestral scores by George Fenton, every episode is packed with images so beautiful or so forcefully impressive (and so perfectly photographed by the BBC's tenacious high-definition camera crews) that you'll be rendered speechless by the splendor of it all. You'll see a seal struggling to out-maneuver a Great White Shark; swimming macaques in the Ganges delta; massive flocks of snow geese numbering in the hundreds of thousands; an awesome night-vision sequence of lions attacking an elephant; the Colugo (or "flying lemur"--not really a lemur!) of the Philippines; a hunting alliance of fish and snakes on Indonesia's magnificent coral reef; the bioluminescent "vampire squid" of the deep oceans... these are just a few of countless highlights, masterfully filmed from every conceivable angle, with frequent use of super-slow-motion and amazing motion-controlled time-lapse cinematography, and narrated by Attenborough with his trademark combination of observational wit and informative authority. The result is a hugely entertaining series that doesn't flinch from the predatory realities of nature (death is a constant presence, without being off-putting).


At a time when the multiple threats of global warming should be obvious to all, let's give Sir David the last word, from the closing of Planet Earth's final episode: "We can now destroy or we can cherish--the choice is ours." --Jeff Shannon

This series is a "must-have" for anyone who has an interest in nature, our planet, and the many diverse and intriguing creatures it is home to. This would make a great holiday present too! I bought mine used and saved about $20 - you can too: Follow the link to Amazon.com to get your copy today.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Octopus T-Shirts and Hoodies from The Steal

VNGRD is an underground clothing design company based in Milan, Italy. "The Steal" is their retail store where they sell a colorful assortment of Octopus t-shirts, hoodies, and windbreakers . Visit their site to check out the complete Octopus Line.



Thursday, October 23, 2008

An Octopus for Your...Toilet?

This is so cool, I just had to share it:

Check out what Gabby and Tal are selling on Etsy.com. These two are purveyors of fun and funky vinyl decals for your home appliances, windows, cars, and even toilets - as they demonstrate.

My favorite, of course, is the creature lurking in the toilet tank, the octopus!





Many more cool stickers available at their shop. Enjoy!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Octopus Lyrics by Syd Barrett

"Octopus" was a song on Syd Barrett's first solo record, "The Madcap Laughs". Barrett released the album after being booted from Pink Floyd and replaced by longtime friend, David Gimour. The song, "Octopus", was released as a single in November of 1969 and was well-received, reaching #40 in the UK. The album containing the song followed in January of 1970.

Trip to heave and ho, up down, to and fro
You have no word
Trip, trip to a dream dragon
Hide your wings in a ghost tower
Sails crackiling at evry plate we break
Cracked by scattered needles
Little minute gong
Coughs and clears his throat
Madam you see before you stand
Hey ho, never be still
The old original favourite gran
Grasshoppers green herbarian band
And the tune they play in us confide...
So trip to heave and ho, up down, to and fro
You have no word
Please leave us here
Close our eyes to the octopus ride!
Isnt it good to be lost in the wood
Isnt it bad so quiet there, in the wood
Twenty even less to me than I thought
With a honey plough of yellow prickly seeds
Clover honey pots and mystic shining feed...
Well, the madcap laughed at the man on the border
Hey ho, huff the talbot
Cheetah he cried shouted kangaroo
So through their tree they cried
Please leave us here
Close our eyes to the octopus ride!
The madcap laughed at the man on the border
Hey ho, huff the talbot
The winds they blew and the leaves did wag
And theyll never put me in their bag
The seas will reach and always see
So high you go, so low you creep
The winds it blows in tropical heat
The drones they throng on mossy seats
The squeaking door will always creep
Two up, two down well never meet
So merrily trip for good my side
Please leave us here
Close our eyes to the octopus ride!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Cyanea Octopus in "The Great Escape!"

Because of their advanced problem-solving skills, dexterous mobility, and lack of a rigid skeletal structure, octopuses have the unique talent of being able to fit through tiny spaces. In this video, a 600 pound Cyanea Octopus wriggles it's way through an opening no bigger than a quarter! The footage is very high quality, offering a detailed view of the slippery tentacles as they maneuver through a clear plastic tube, and the narration is pretty darn informative. Enjoy:

Monday, October 20, 2008

A Slew of Octopus Tattoos.

To pay homage to the ever-fascinating and inky creatures, many humans opt for their own dose of ink with octopus tattoos. Below are some of my favorite octopus tattoos from BMEzine.com.


A lifelike beauty.



Such a cutie! Check out this Shel Silverstein illustration.



A badass nicknamed "Prometheus".



The skin pattern of an enraged Blue-Ringed Octopus.



A gorgeously detailed back piece.



A very special first tattoo.



More Blue-Ring Octopus action.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

How Many Arms Does an Octopus Have? Only Six - the Other Two Are Legs

From MailOnSunday.co.uk
Writen by Daily Mail Reporter

Ask anyone how many arms an octopus has and the usual answer will be eight. But scientists now insist these nautical animals only have six. In a new study they found that the creatures used six of their tentacles as arms and two as legs. Marine experts at 20 Sea Life centres across Europe gathered data from over 2,000 separate observations. They found common octopuses moved over the ground using their back two limbs, leaving the remaining six for eating.


(Above) Scientists found that octopuses use two tentacles for walking and four as arms.

Claire Little, a marine expert from the Weymouth Sea Life Centre in Dorset, said: 'We've found that octopuses effectively have six arms and two legs.

'It had been thought they used four tentacles for movement and the other four for feeding and manipulating objects.

'But observations showed that they use the rearmost two to get around over rocks and the seabed.

'They also use these two legs to push off when they wish to swim, and then other tentacles are used to propel them.'


Four legs up, two legs down: An octopus goes for a walk.

The results came out of a study designed to show if octopuses favoured one side or the other. The study had involved giving them jam jars and Rubik's Cubes to play with in a bid to see if the creatures favour a particular tentacle for handling objects.
While there is no obvious difference between any of the tentacles, experts were surprised to note how often the octopuses' third tentacle from the front was employed for eating.

They also concluded the creatures favour no side and are ambidextrous.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Octopus Costumes for Halloween: Children and Adults

Surely babies aren't the only ones donning octopus costumes this Halloween. After poking around the web some more, I found a unique assortment of octopus costumes for children and adults.

Ever hear of a "Wrap-n-Ride"? Well, neither had I until stumbling upon this clever idea. The featured octopus costume wraps around your child to provide a nifty octopus costume and a plush pal to boot! Available at UnbeatableSale.com



So much more than just an octopus costume...this unique garment comes with a story worth reading. Pay a visit to jennyzhang.org to read about "The Octopus in You, Who?" workshop.



A clever guy made his very own octopus costume from a standard hoodie. Read all about making your own octopus costume on Craftster.org.



This one has to be my favorite: Not only is this handmade octopus costume great for Halloween, but as designer Tiachia demonstrates, it's suitable for every other day of the year as well. Is that awesome or what? Unfortunately, the one-of-a-kind creation has been sold, but there's still time to get crackin' on creating your very own octopus costume.