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Monday, December 19, 2011

Octopus Baby Blanket

Looking for something snuggly and octabulous for your newborn? I found just the thing for ya!

Etsy.com seller, Angela Curtis, has been crocheting for over 23 years and has been kind enough to share her creations with the world through her many Etsy stores. There are beautiful baby blankies, plushies, scarves and more available at All Things Granny, including this adorable octopus baby blanket.

"Crocheted Baby Blanket - Granny Border Octopus

Granny Square Baby Blanket made with High Quality Acrylic Blend Yarns.

This blanket was lovingly crocheted in a stitch pattern that I call the thermal stitch, because the finished product looks similar to a thermal blanket.

The newest addition to our line of Baby Blanket is our Octopus Motif. He measures 8" x 8", and is securely sewn down to the blanket in one corner.

**This blanket is a Made to Order item, and will be sent to you within 4 weeks time, ready to use, perfect for a gift, and comes from my non-smoking home.**

You may specify different colors if you like.

It is very soft. Measures approx 20" xx 30".

With my 35 years of crochet experience I bring a quality product to you. Each of my products is well made, and should be considered an heirloom piece to pass down in families for many generations to come. All ends are tied into the work, all stitches are uniform.

This blanket is ready to use, perfect for a gift, and comes from my non-smoking home. It will be shipped to you in a nicely wrapped package."

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Shipwreck! Fabulous Octopus Top Hat from Etsy.com

Etsy.com seller, JellyfishVintage aka Mrs. Jones believes that quality and craftsmanship are essential for creating memorable clothing and accessories that will last a lifetime and ensure that you always look fabulous! Mrs. Jones has handcrafted a fantastic made-to-order octopus hat worthy of even the most discriminating cephalophile. Behold...

"This mini top hat facinator, is by far my favorite i have ever made. It is a hand constructed top hat lined in high quality soft crushed velvet, in black and moss green, the it is adorned with jeweled golden octopus legs and golden sea shells, even a gold authentic starfish perches on top. There is fisherman's net draped over it and dried moss too, peacock feathers and a chained emerald swinging on the base, the clams even have pearls! Perfect for a pirate who wants to be a bit out of the ordinary!

Secured with a non slip headband that can be hidden under the hair.

Surprisingly lightweight and comfy for all night wear"

This stunning octopus hat and several other cleverly crafted goodies are available at JellyfishVintage. Happy top hat shopping!

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Sea Lion vs. Octopus

Originally posted December 12, 2011

KPLU.org - news for Seattle and the Northwest

Last Wednesday, Dec. 7, Everett Herald photographer Mark Mulligan caught a rare sight on camera – a sea lion feeding on an octopus. (See above video)

It is a seldom occurrence to witness the splendor of marine life. The limited encounters that we have with such fuels curiosity and interest.

Seattle aquarium’s curator of mammals and birds, Traci Belting, shared some insight into the diet of sea lions.

“Local sea lions are opportunistic and will eat anything they can,” said Belting. “In the past, necropsies on sea lions have found octopus beaks in their stomachs.”

It’s not uncommon for sea lions to feed on octopus, given its wide dietary patterns. Sea lions don’t chew their food; the only time we are able to see them feed is when they surface to tear their prey into smaller pieces to swallow whole.

“Octopus are usually pretty evasive and make for cunning prey,” said Belting.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Octopus Walks on Land

Originally posted November 23, 2011

CBSNews.com

(CBS) - The Animal Kingdom is full of wondrous creatures. We are constantly surprised at what animals are capable of. But this is just nuts. Did you know that an octopus could walk on land? Because I had no idea. And this video blew my mind!

There have been videos of octopi on land before, but they're usually along the lines of a little guy falling out of a tank or being placed on the ground. This rubbery explorer just straight up walks out of the water. It's even carrying a crab the whole time.

It is well known that octopuses are exceptionally intelligent. It seems like there's nothing these charming cephalopods can't do.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Octopuses Capable of Hand-Eye Coordination

By Helen Albert, CosmosMagazine.com
May 30, 2011

LONDON: Octopuses are able to use visual cues to guide a single arm to a location, a complex movement that was not thought possible due to their lack of a rigid body structure, say researchers.

The octopus' arm is made up primarily of muscle with no skeletal support, so octopuses were previously believed to have a low level of body awareness and only limited control over their limbs. However, this study has shown for the first time that they can direct a single arm in a complex movement to a target location.

"Octopuses have a central nervous system that is advanced for an invertebrate, but simple compared to a vertebrate, yet it is capable of controlling a much more 'difficult' arm," said lead study author Tamar Gutnick, a researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel.

"Because of the unique body plan of the octopus its ability to control a single arm in a complex movement is quite amazing."

Too soft for complex movement?

Octopuses were thought to have no conscious central nervous system-directed (CNS) control over their arms with movement being controlled solely by the activity in the complex array of nerves (PNS) present in the limbs.

However, the visual aspect of the task carried out by the octopuses in this study suggests that there must be an exchange of information between the CNS and the PNS during such behaviours.

Photo by Tamar Gutnick

In Gutnick and colleagues' experiment, six out of seven octopuses succeeded in using a single arm to select a visually marked compartment containing a food reward in a three-choice, plexiglass maze.

The animals were required to reach the compartment containing the food reward at least five times in a row out of a total number of trials ranging from 61 to 211. The octopuses could only use one arm to complete the task, as the tube leading to each compartment was only wide enough for one limb.

How brains control behaviour

The team observed that the chance of a successful trial improved significantly during the last 20 trials for each animal compared with the preceding trials.

They also noted that the animals seemed to learn that they needed to see the three boxes to improve their chances of getting the reward and were significantly more likely to be in view of the boxes during the last 20 trials than during the earlier tests.

The octopuses also adapted their arm use strategy from mostly 'straight', involving a direct unrolling or pushing upwards of the arm through the tube, to a 'search' strategy, involving probing and crawling in the central tube and above the choice boxes before deciding on a compartment.

Photo by Michael Kuba

It's not automatic

"This is a very important step in our knowledge of octopus behaviour," commented Jennifer Mather, a professor of psychology and expert on octopus behaviour at Lethbridge University in Alberta, Canada.

"The octopus has a large number of complex arms, and the question of how they manage to guide all of them is a fascinating one. We had previously thought that it might be fairly automatic or that their control was more at the local level within the arm. This is good evidence that local control need not be all," she added.

Studies involving octopus motor control, such as this, are the foundation of a current European Union research project to develop a robot octopus (Octopus Project). The aim of the project is to design and produce a soft-bodied robot that moves and squeezes through narrow spaces in a similar way to a biological octopus.

"Depending on the size of the robot its use could be from medicine (constructing new soft-bodied ultra flexible surgical tools) to big robots that could be used in search and rescue," said Gutnick, who is continuing her research on motor control.

"We are continuing to look at single arm tasks where animals are taught using a variety of senses, exploring the involvement of central and peripheral information," she said.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Octopus Chair by Maximo Riera

As both a lover of everything octopus and interior design, this piece really tickled my fancy! Truly a work of art, this is the throne I imagine the evil octopus overlord ruling his kingdom from...




Text from DesignBoom.com

Spanish artist maximo riera has designed 'octopus chair', a limited edition piece that is part of a larger collection entitled 'animal chairs'. The series consists of more than fifteen different works where the marriage between furniture and animal is the main component.

Choosing the chair based on its banality in our everyday lives, the series looks to bring life to the basic function of the object, making it more present while creating a stronger connection between the spectator, the chair and its environment.

Requiring a team of over thirty professionals and four different companies, the chair was produced using a CNC milling machine. mechanized sculpting tools then produced a series of forms cut from foam blocks. Each part was assembled, glued, sanded and painted by hand to create an object that transmits a dynamic sense of movement.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Suckers! Frugal Kiwi's Needle-Felted Octopus

This beautiful specimen is a felt sculpture made by Frugal Kiwi. Thank you to Everything Octopus reader, Melanie McMinn for contributing this link. Melanie also did the fun and fabulous web design so be sure to let her know how much ya like it once you visit the Frugal Kiwi blog!

The pictures below are of a handmade needle-felt common octopus. To read more about the process of making this beauty and some cheeky reader comments, please visit FrugalKiwi.co.nz.





Any other Needle-felters out there? The Everything Octopus community would love to see your creations!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Video: Real Octomom Gives Birth to Little Octopods

May 13, 2011
FoxNews.com

Here's something you don't see every day: the birth of thousands of octopi, caught on film.

These tiny octopuses are the offspring of a Caribbean Octopus vulgaris acquired by the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco in January. Soon after the octopus moved into the aquarium, biologist Richard Ross writes on his blog at Advanced Aquarist, she surprised everyone by laying eggs. Three weeks later, those eggs hatched, turning the octopus' tank into a "snow globe" of baby octopi, or paralarvae.

Each hatchling is 0.04 inches (1 to 2 millimeters) long. After they were born, the aquarium fed the baby octopi even tinier brine shrimp and zooplankton. Unfortunately, Ross wrote, octopus paralarvae are difficult to keep alive in captivity, though many survived up to 26 days.

The tale has a sad end for mom, too. This species of octopus stops eating after she lays her thousands of eggs and then dies soon after they hatch. The mother O. vulgaris lived about two weeks after her larvae emerged, Ross told LiveScience.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Octopus Neckties

Nothing says "I'm all business" like an octopus necktie, right? For those who want a little fun with their formality, may I suggest a visit to Etsy.com seller, RokGear. This is the shop for octopus neckties for dads, grads, and cephalofiends alike! Check out the amazing selection of colorful octopus neckties

Octopus Bow Tie, $22

Boys Octopus Clip-on Tie, $22

Octopus Necktie, $28


Description...

New Design RokGear original hand drawn pencil to paper to print features several octopus in a paisley type design this design has some sweet detail very sharp and clean enlarge the pictures for a better look.
hand print silk screen using 100% toxic free lead free solvent free earth friendly water base ink, heat cured to last the life of the necktie.

More details at the shop site.

There's plenty of time to place your order for Father's Day and Graduation...or simply because octopus ties are awesome and you've got to have one!

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Newsy.com Explores the Phenomenon of the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus

The internet sensation, the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus made headlines again recently when a study was conducted to test the gullibility of kids who use the internet. A group of 7th graders was instructed to write essays on the Tree Octopus, yet failed to realize it was a hoax. The obvious conclusion? The internet is making kids more gullible.


However, the study failed to illuminate a number of facts and has been criticized for twisting some of the information presented. Newsy.com digs deeper with an comprehensive - and fun-to-read - article and video exploring the truth behind "the facts".


Multisource political news, world news, and entertainment news analysis by Newsy.com


Newsy is a multiple perspective news analyzer. They are the only
video news analyzer out there bringing two minute stories online, on
major Android cell phones, the iPhone and even the iPad. Newsy covers
all angles of the story leaving viewers with a convenient place to
find balanced new coverage on the go.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Judge Rules Against Walla Walla Octopus Mural

This is a follow-up to a story that garnered media attention back in October. Read the original post, Octo-fuss in Walla Walla Continues and the March follow-up, Purple Octopus to Get Day in Court for the full scoop.

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The Associated Press
Walla Walla, Washington

A judge has ruled in favor of the city of Walla Walla in a dispute over a purple octopus mural above a downtown toy store.

The Union-Bulletin reports the judge has rejected the store owner's claim that the city sign code is unconstitutional.

Inland Octopus toy store owner Bob Catsiff went to Walla Walla County Superior Court trying to save the giant purple octopus mural that was painted in September. He calls it art.

The city says it's a sign code violation, and the fine has been growing at $100 a day.

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Information from: Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, http://www.union-bulletin.com

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day from Everything Octopus!

Here are some interesting facts about mother octopuses (saying "octo-mom" is just out of the question for obvious reasons!):

The female octopus births about 200,000 eggs (depending on species) at a single time, the only time in her life when she will reproduce.

She carefully cares for these eggs during the incubation period, which generally lasts for one month (once again, this time period can vary depending on the species). She blows currents of water over them to keep them oxygenated and guards them from predators. During this time, she does not hunt and begins to weaken.

Occasionally, a female octopus will ingest some of her own eggs for sustenance.

Once the eggs hatch, the babies are on their own. The mother is left weakened from the constant care she has given her hatchlings, sacrificing her own needs for theirs.

Mother octopus leaves the lair in her weakened state and is unable to fend off predators.

Mother octopus guarding her brood.

Even in the octopus world, a mother's love know no boundaries! THANK YOU to all the moms out there who have given so much to raise us all. Now, if you want a good laugh about octopus mommy-hood, check out this hilarious post from The Oatmeal, This is Why an Octopus is More Awesome Than Your Mom.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Support the Japan Disaster Relief Efforts with Octopus Jewelry!

Hello fellow cephalophiles, sorry for the long break; my Mac Mini saw it's last day of octoblogging and it took a while to get back up-and-running. Now let's get to it...

Etsy.com seller, Leviticus is supporting the Japan Disaster Relief efforts while beautifying the world with her bodacious jewelry. For a limited time, all items in the shop are on sale and 50% of the sale goes to the American Red Cross to support the Japan Disaster Relief.




Highly detailed squid tentacle wrap ring with a Czech crystal adorned suction cup. Available in Rhodium plated with black Czech crystal, 18k gold plated with black Czech crystal, black gold plated with a clear Czech crystal.

These rings are Leviticus original designs that are hand cast and plated.

Available in sizes: 6, 7, 8
***CURRENTLY SOLD OUT IN BLACK GOLD SIZES 7, 8***

Please mention your size as well as color preference during checkout.

****50% of ALL Leviticus Jewelry sales will be donated to the RED CROSS for the Japan Disaster Relief!****

Support a great cause and look good doing it! Happy shopping!

Monday, April 18, 2011

8 Legged Entertainment

This is, by far, one of the most interesting sites I've seen in my search for everything octopus: It's Tako, the chef! "Deep Fried Live!", Tako's cooking show, claims to be the world's only cooking show hosted by an appetizer. Check out the video below to see what they mean...



"Deep Fried Live! is the ultimate culinary spectacle, offering cooking tips, in depoth food science, recipes, and links to the latest cookware & ingredients. It's also a thorough exploration of how much damage one octopus can do with an unlimited supply of kitchen artillery.

More cooking lessons, videos, and octoriffic goodness available at TakoTheOctopus.com and 8Legged.com

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Octopus Light Switch Cover

Etsy.com seller, WoodenDoll has a beautiful shop filled with lots of affordable ways to spruce up your interior - octopus-styyyle! Check out this bright and beautiful octopus light switch cover that sells for only $10. Lots of other great art and light switch covers available as well. Enjoy!


Product Description

Octo Plasmic Light Switch Art Cover. Colorful and fun light switchplate covers that bring a room alive. These fun and eye catching switch plate covers are bursting with art!

Art Covers are made from my designs and carefully applied to the plastic cover using deco podge and then sealed for protection. Measurements: 3.25" x 5" oversized.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Noise in Oceans Leads to "Severe Acoustic Trauma" in Octopus, Squid

Jeremy Hance
mongabay.com
April 12, 2011

Researchers have documented for years how noise pollution impacts dolphins in whales, but a new study in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment finds that even low intensity noise can severely injure cephalopods, which include octopus, squid, and cuttlefish. The injuries are bad enough to possibly lead to stranding and death, thereby providing a feasible explanation for a number of recent strandings, including giant squid washing ashore in Spain.

"This is the first study indicating a severe impact on invertebrates, an extended group of marine species that are not known to rely on sound for living," says Michel André, Technical University of Catalonia in Barcelona, in a press release.

Researchers subjected four species of cephalopods—European squid (Loligo vulgaris), common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), and Southern shortfin squid (Illex coindeti)—to low intensity and low frequency sounds (between 50 and 400 Hertz) for two hours. Following the noise exposure, researchers found damage to species' statocysts, which are sensory organs that balance the cephalopods. Inside the statocysts hair cells had ruptured, nerve fibers had swelled, and some statocysts even suffered lesions. These holes continued to grow larger hours after exposure.

The European octopus, and other cephalopods, are more sensitive to even low-frequency sounds than researchers expected. Photo by: Gewöhnlicher Krake. “We expected some lesions after noise exposure but not the level of trauma that we found. What we found was typical of what you might find in mammals after violent, high intensity sound exposure,” André told The Great Beyond.

Given the low intensity of the sounds used in the experiment, researchers believe the 'louder' sounds encountered in the ocean would significantly impair squids, octopi, and cuttlefish.

"The impact of continuous, high intensity noise pollution in the oceans could be considerable. For example, we can predict that, since the statocyst is responsible for balance and spatial orientation, noise-induced damage to this structure would likely affect the cephalopod's ability to hunt, evade predators and even reproduce; in other words, this would not be compatible with life," André explains.

Underwater noise pollution is caused by offshore drilling—and other excavation activities that use seismic surveys to locate deposits—cargo transportation, industrial fishing, and even recreational boating. Studies have shown that some marine animals actually become louder to be heard when confronted with deafening sounds in their environment.

"It left us with several questions," André says, "is noise pollution capable of impacting the entire web of ocean life? What other effects is noise having on marine life, beyond damage to auditory reception systems? And just how widespread and invasive is sound pollution in the marine environment?"

Thursday, April 14, 2011

And The Winner Is...

As generated by Random.org...

#17 - ALYSSA!!!

Alyssa contributed some of her very own art, which you can see below. Very cool!








Thank you sooo much to everyone who contributed their fabulous finds! Expect to see many of your links featured in upcoming posts. Stay tuned as we continue to explore and celebrate everything octopus!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Everything Octopus: Cephalo-link Contest!

Everything Octopus readers are a fun and creative bunch! I'm constantly amazed at the awesome emails I get from readers letting me know about all sorts of octopus goodies so that I may share them on the blog. I thought it would neat to let EVERYONE contribute and to say thank you for your contribution and readership, by awarding a FREE prize to one lucky contestant.

And by "prize" I mean "PRIZE"! Behold the beautiful blue octopus vintage book page art print from Etsy.com seller, DreameryStudio. Absolutely FREE to the winner!

This one-of-a-kind octopus print (sans frame) can be yours, all yours!


To Enter...

1) You must be a Follower of Everything Octopus. If you're not already a Follower, go to the right hand side of the page and click "Follow" under the "Follow the Octopus" headline. You'll automatically get Everything Octopus updates and be part of a wild n' zany ceph-loving community!

2) Comment on this post with a link to anything and everything octopus related that you think other readers may want to know about. You can post a link to your favorite news article, artwork, something available for purchase, a video, book, an octopus picture you snapped, absolutely anything!

Each comment containing your cephalo-link will count as an entry. YOU CAN ENTER AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT.

***Be sure to include your email address so that we may contact you and tell you you've WON! If your email is not included in your blogger profile (meaning that we can click on your name in the comment box to access it), then please add it to your comment.***

The winner will be selected by a raffle, meaning that if there are 100 coments, we'll randomly draw a number between 1 and 100, and the commenter that corresponds with that number is the winner.

The contest will run through Wednesday, April 13th, and the winner will be announced on Thursday, April 14th.

Please feel free to share this contest with all the octofiends you know. I truly look forward to all your cephalo-links - the more, the merrier! Have fun and good luck!
http://www.totallyfreestuff.com/linkin.asp?ID=40899

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Thomas Paul Octopus Throw

I thought I'd post this just for fun...just in case you ever wondered what it would be like to curl up on the sofa with $350 worth of octopus wrapped around you. Behold: The Thomas Paul octopus throw!

Available at PillowsAndThrows.com for $350


Product Description
This modern throw by Thomas Paul is best described as both scandalously stylish and wonderfully warm. It is a great item to add a pop of color to a room and to keep you warm on chilly nights.

This throw is hand-loomed in Peru of 100% baby alpaca and measures 50 x 70. Colors are reversed in back.

A while back, we featured the Thomas Paul Octopus shawl - another luxurious octo-hit!

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Be sure to stop by Everything Octopus tomorrow as we unveil our latest contest! See what you can win and how you can get your tentacles on the prize!

Monday, April 4, 2011

New Giant Pacific Octopus joins Aquarium of the Bay

SFExaminer.com
March 28, 2011

A Giant Pacific Octopus will be getting its tentacles wet as the newest addition to an aquarium in San Francisco, officials said.

The Aquarium of the Bay welcomed the octopus Thursday after purchasing it from a local crab fisherman, according to the aquarium.

Giant Pacific Octopuses crave crabs and den-like enclosures, and often mistake crabbers’ nets as hunting and hiding ground, where they are unintentionally caught, aquarium officials said.

If the octopus kills and eats the crabber’s catch, many fishermen retaliate by killing the octopus, according to the aquarium.

Aquarium of the Bay tries to change this behavior by working with fishermen and purchasing octopuses for exhibit.

The aquarium said it advertises this financial opportunity by posting fliers around local piers and tackle stores.

The newest inhabitant to the aquarium, a true testament to its name, weighs over 80 pounds and joins three other Giant Pacific Octopuses in the aquarium’s near-shore tunnel exhibit, officials said.

Giant Pacific Octopuses are professionals at the art of disguise and can change color within a fraction of a second, by stretching or squeezing their skin, according to the aquarium. Their typical lifespan is about five years.

“Aquarium of the Bay is always happy to provide a safe haven for octopuses that would otherwise meet a hasty demise,” Christina J. Slager, the aquarium’s director of husbandry, said in a news release.

The aquarium is a nonprofit marine life center, dedicated to cultivating the conservation of the San Francisco Bay and its watershed.

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Stay tuned for details on the latest Everything Octopus contest and how you can win!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Tell Your Manicurist You Want Octopus Nails!

The hottest fashion statement you can make this Spring season - Octopus Nails! I took to the web to find the most stylin' and tentacular nails out there. Get inspired and get paintin' your own lovely set of octopus nails.

This set was done for an "Under-the-Sea" themed nail art competition. I'd say these are a "Perfect 10"! Visit NailArtAndNiftyThings.Tumblr.com to congratulate this octo-artist on a job well done.

Bold and blue octopus nails from Cephalolove.tumblr.com. I love his big eye on her thumb!

Painting ain't yer thang? Then check out these awesome octopus nail decals from BigRubyTattoos.com. Only $12 for a set of 86 tattoos including octopuses, starfish, sharks, whales, and more.

To find out how you can create your very own fun and flirty octopus nails, check out AlwaysLookCute.Blogspot.com

Take it to the next level with this gorgeous set of handmade acrylic octopus nails. What's great about these is that they're reusable, so you really get your money's worth. $16.50 for a set of 12-14 at Etsy.com/Aya1gou

Pssst...come back next week for an Everything Octopus contest and find out how you can win an octorrific prize!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Video: BBC Wildlife Extreme Animals

"Watch this amazing footage as Steve Leonard gets up close and personal with a giant octopus in the freezing sea waters. Would you be happy to get this close to an Extreme Animal with giant eys and pale blue blood? Find out now as you take a dive into this beautiful aquatic environment."



Visit this link on the Giant Pacific Octopus to learn more about the largest and longest-living species of octopus.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Octopus Gates

Octopus gates are further proof that there is no end to what can be "octofied". Check out this fun collection of octopus gates from around the web and around the world.

This beautiful octopus gate was made by Paul Gilbert, a Devon-based blacksmith. Visit PaulGilbert-Blacksmith.co.uk to see more of his work.

These little pus's are from the Hong Kong railway, where frequent travelers use an "Octopus Card" for quicker easier access.

A fabulous find in Florida!

A close-up of the octopus adorning the gate to The Globe Theatre in London.

Octopuses in Brooklyn?! Fuggedaboutit! Visit FishbeinMetalStudio.com to see more of Fishbein's gorgeous ironwork.

This super stylin' condo in Miami lists the octopus gate as one of its features to potential buyers. Quite the selling point!

Imagine being greeted by this playful octopus every time you pull up to your driveway? Sounds like fun to me!

This octopus gate was spotted by a traveler on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Video: Blanket Octopus

This clip from Disney's "Oceans" shows the true majesty and grace of the Blanket Octopus. Read more about this fascinating species in our previous post, Species: Blanket Octopus.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Saying Goodbye to the Giant Pacific Octopus in Oregon

March 25, 2011
BeachConnection.net


(Oregon Coast) – Three distinctly different ways to have fun are popping up on the Oregon coast this coming week - all quite unlike the other, but certainly very different ways to engage in repose as well. One involves an octopus, another a lot of poetry and prose, and the third is a historical museum coming back to life. (Photo Above: a Pacific octopus - photo courtesy Seaside Aquarium).

If you grew up in Oregon, it's likely one of your more vivid memories was of the octopus near the front entrance of the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Nope, it hasn’t been the same octopus all these years, but rather they change every nine months.

On Wednesday, March 30, staff at the Hatfield will let their latest giant Pacific octopus go free, back into the wild.

The Hatfield’s Bill Hanshumaker said Giant Pacific octopuses have a short life span of about just a few years.

The giant pacific octopus dies shortly after reproducing – so this is one heck of a last hurrah.

The crowds will gather at Yaquina Bay's South Jetty at 10:30 a.m. to wave goodbye. Newport, Oregon.

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Visit the link to learn more about Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Squiddly Diddly Octopus Cartoon

A while back an Everything Octopus reader challenged me to find an old black and white octopus cartoon. In my search, I came across some unexpected and fun toons that I thought you might enjoy, including Hanna-Barbera's famous ceph, Squiddly Diddly.


Squiddly Diddly, who looks more octopus than squid, made his TV debut in 1965 on the Atom Ant/Secret Squirrel Show. An octopus after my own heart, Diddly is an aspiring musician who has the extraordinary ability to play multiple instruments at once. Diddly is confined to a life at Bubbleland, which is an amusement park similar to Sea World. In search of stardom, Diddly continually attempts to break out of Bubbleland, however his escapes are always foiled by the park's administrator, Chief Winchley.


Squiddly Diddly also made appearances on several other cartoons including Yogi's Gang, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, and Sealab 2021.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Video: Octopus Cameo in Jameson Irish Whiskey Commercial

It seems as though our friend the octopus is everywhere these days - and I wouldn't have it any other way! Check out this epic new advertisement for Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Species: Blanket Octopus

Blanket Octopus is the common name used to describe four species of octopus belonging to the Tremoctopus genus. The four species are the Common Blanket Octopus, Gelatinous Blanket Octopus, Palmate Octopus, and Tremoctopus Robsoni. They are called so because of the transparent webbing connecting their dorsal and dorsolateral arms, which resembles a large a large flowing blanket.


These species can be found in the open seas of the Mediterranean as well as the North and South Atlantic Ocean. Sightings are rare, making the Blanket Octopus an elusive and mysterious species.

The "blanket" is a defense mechanism, and a handy one too, as Blanket Octopuses do not have ink to ward off predators. Instead, the Blanket Octopus will unfurl its blanket, making it look significantly larger and intimidating, with the intention of scaring off whatever threatens it.


Interestingly, Blanket Octopus is immune to the poison of the Portuguese man o' war, a jellyfish-like invertebrate known for its deadly venom. Taking advantage of their immunity, Blanket Octopuses will rip off the Man o' war's tentacles and use them to defend themselves from attacks.

Males and females look as though their two different species! Female Blanket Octopuses may grow in excess of two meters in length, whereas males only reach a few centimeters. The males have a detachable arm in which sperm is stored. When it is time to mate, the male detaches its arm and lodges it into the female's mantle. The male dies shortly afterwards while the female goes on to carry over 100,000 eggs that she keeps attached to her until they are ready to hatch.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Unique Octopus Flask from ArtFire.com

Perfect for your libation-toting needs! Leather craftswoman, Caitlin McNamara, a.k.a. "Moxie & Oliver", has designed one of the most beautifully unque flasks I've ever seen. It's for sale at ArtFire.com, along with a slew of other handmade octopus goodies.



Product Description
Just in case you happen to be doing some drinking while you're in the octopus' garden, this flask would be perfect! It's the Hugs pattern with lots of little octopus arms in white and silver, with a blue wash.

This is an 6-ounce stainless steel flask with a tooled leather cover. I start with tooling leather, then treat, brand, carve, paint and dye it. After the pattern is done I apply a protective finish to protect it from drinking binges!

*this item will be made to order, so please see shop announcement for present turn-around time*

$55

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Purple Octopus to Get Day in Court

Here is a follow up to an article posted in October about the Octopus Controversy in Walla Walla

March 7, 2011
Terry McConn
Walla Walla Union Bulletin

WALLA WALLA -- A court hearing has been set in the lawsuit filed by a downtown toy store owner who's trying to save his giant, purple octopus mural on constitutional grounds.

The hearing before Superior Court Judge Donald W. Schacht is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 19 at the County Courthouse. Both sides are expected to argue their positions in the case. Schacht may or may not rule at the time.

In the court appeal, Inland Octopus owner Bob Catsiff is asking Schacht to overturn a Walla Walla hearing examiner's decision in November affirming fines the city is assessing on Catsiff and requiring him to comply with the sign code if he loses his appeal.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Octopods Historical Origin in Question

March 5, 2011
Guardian.co.uk

A fossil octopus found in Lebanon has dramatically changed zoologists' thinking on these creatures' historic origin.

An ultraviolet picture of the octopus fossil found in Lebanon, which is more than 95m years old. Photograph: Dirk Fuchs/Free University of Berlin

Keuppia levante is one of several newly discovered fossil octopus species found in Lebanon that challenge previous assumptions about the origin and age of the Octopoda. Along with Keuppia hyperbolaris and Styletoctopus annae, this species is now the earliest unequivocal fossil for the group.

Truly remarkable anatomical details were observable due to the fine-grained Cenomanian limestones in which these species were entombed 180-95 million years ago. Octopods were previously thought to have arisen in mid-Cretaceous times. Thanks to characters observed in these newly discovered species, scientists now think octopods appeared significantly earlier, possibly even in Jurassic times.

Quentin Wheeler is director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University