Common reef octopus, Octopus vulgaris, encountered during a dive at Solomon Islands.
This photograph shows a Common Octopus, Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) within its natural environment trying to imitate the surrounding rocks using its ability of camouflage. Octopuses are able to change the coloration and structure of their skin within seconds to hide from potential predators. Octopuses possess specified cells, which enables them to change coloration and structure of their skin within seconds. Chromatophores, which are responsible for the pigmentation can be expanded or contracted to shift coloration. Irridophores are able to reflect light and can enhance the effects of coloration change, and Leucophores, which are “white cells”, serve as background. The skin texture can be adapted through muscle contractions to help the octopus to merge into the surrounding structures. Their body is also extremely flexible to enable the animal to fit in the smallest holes and crevices. Reef Octopus are usually encountered solitary , unless they mate. They feed on crabs, fish and scallops. This species is found globally in all tropical and temperate seas. This photograph was taken in Solomon Islands in 2002.
Size: 5462px × 3571px
Photo credit: © Malcolm Ross / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: brown, camouflage, change, chromatophores, color, contraction, crevices, dark, fit, flexible, gray, hiding, holes, irridophores, islands, leucophores, mollusk, muscle, octopus, red, reef, skin, solitary, solomon, surrounding, tentacles, texture, underwater, vulgaris
