Octopus seen walking on two legs like a human (includes video)

KATU -2 News (Oregon) / AP ^ | March 25, 2005 | RANDOLPH E. SCHMID

[Stoat]

Octopus seen walking on two legs like a human

VIDEO

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Octopuses, known for using camouflage to avoid predators, have been observed apparently trying to sneak away by walking on two arms while pretending to be a bunch of algae.

Two kinds of octopus were seen to use different ways of walking along the sea floor, researchers were reporting in Friday's issue of the journal Science.

The movements were discovered by Christine L. Huffard of the University of California, Berkeley, who was studying underwater video camera tapes of the animals.

Berkeley professor Robert J. Full said Huffard was studying octopus movement as part of a robotics project. He said the researchers use examples from nature in designing robots; one project is to build a soft robot.

Octopuses trying to avoid being eaten usually hold still to camouflage themselves. But by walking on two arms, these two types were able to move quickly while using their other arms to disguise themselves.

Two individuals of O. marginatus from Indonesia wrapped six arms around themselves, looking like a coconut on the sea floor. They ten used the two rear arms to move backward.

In Australia, O. aculeatus was seen raising two arms above its head before lifting four more and moving backward on the two remaining arms. The researchers described it as looking like "a clump of algae tiptoeing away."

The researchers believe the octopuses were trying to flee from predators, though they cannot be sure until they have seen more examples of the behavior.

The research was funded by the American Malacological Society and the National Science Foundation.

[Flora McDonald]

You mean this one?



Thanks to Red Staters these aliens no longer pose a threat to our planet and are considered politically neutered.

[Charles Henrickson]

. . . . . . .Ol' Crustacean

[Dataman]

So... humans evolved from octopi, today?

"Science" is all over the place these days, like a pea in a whistle. On Tuesday science tells us that Terri's starvation is painless. On Monday they administer morphine. Friday we evolved from this, Saturday we evolved from that, Monday we evolved from the other thing.

[cherokee1]

So sorry--didn't mean to dis generic weasels----was thinking more of the one that lives on Don Trumps head----as well as the pot bellied little commie.

[cherokee1]

Is this an Arkansas wedding?

[katana]

Remarkable creatures. Their normal lifespan is only a couple years but they're extremely intelligent. They've been known to manipulate and open the latches on cages and then amble across boat decks to freedom.

I saw a special about them on the science channel a couple years ago. That being said, my personal contact with Octopi has generally been in the chilled food section of Asian hotel lunch and dinner buffets.

[cherokee1]

Maybe you worked on me----my teeth are filed and I got the bill for the 'Gator?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Remember, Cthulhu loves you.

[CaptRon]

Ping for later.

[Arioch7]

I have a commercial Sea Urchin Harvesing license and they are harmless. The bacteria in the spines can give you an infection but I am pretty sure they are not poisonous.

You almost never see this big guy in my neck of the woods (North of Boston.) but it is possible. I am going up to Nova Scotia in June and perhaps I will see one. It is the worlds largest Jellyfish. It can reach seven feet across and it's tentacles can go down 100' and yes, it IS potentially fatal to be stung by one. It's not the most poisonous but that is a relative thing for a beast like this. I give you the Lions Mane Jellyfish...

Under the water is the safest place to be if there are beasties lurking. It may be scary because you can see them but Divers are the least likely to get hit. We call swimmers "Shark-Bait".

I love the Ocean!

Arioch7 out!

[Brofholdonow]

We had a three-legged President. I believe he was from Arkansas.

[csmusaret]

Those were John Edwards sightings.

[AmishDude]

Yeah, isn't the plural "Octopiss"?