Neha Patil (Editor)

Amphioctopus marginatus

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Octopoda

Genus
  
Rank
  
Species

Phylum
  
Family
  
Octopodidae

Scientific name
  
Amphioctopus marginatus

Higher classification
  
Amphioctopus

Amphioctopus marginatus Amphioctopus marginatus Coconut Octopus

Similar
  
Amphioctopus, Octopus, Cephalopod, Fiery‑throated hummingbird, Blue‑ringed octopus

Coconut octopus amphioctopus marginatus


Amphioctopus marginatus, also known as the coconut octopus and veined octopus, is a medium-sized cephalopod belonging to the genus Amphioctopus. It is found in tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean. It commonly preys upon shrimp, crabs, and clams, and displays unusual behavior including bipedal walking and tool use (gathering coconut shells and seashells and using these for shelter).

Contents

Amphioctopus marginatus Amphioctopus marginatus Wikipedia

The coconut octopus amphioctopus marginatus with murex dive resorts


Size and description

The main body of the octopus is typically 8 centimeters (3 in) long and including the arms, approximately 15 centimeters (6 in) long. The octopus displays a typical color pattern with dark ramified lines similar to veins, usually with a yellow siphon. The arms are usually dark in color, with contrasting white suckers. In many color displays, a lighter trapezoidal area can be seen immediately below the eye.

Behavior and habitat

Amphioctopus marginatus 1000 images about Amphioctopus marginatus on Pinterest Octopus

The coconut octopus is found on sandy bottoms in bays or lagoons. It frequently buries itself in the sand with only its eyes uncovered.

Amphioctopus marginatus httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons11

In March 2005, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, published an article in Science in which A. marginatus was reported to show bipedal locomotion. It is one of only two octopus species known to display such behavior, the other species being Abdopus aculeatus. According to the article, this behavior was discovered in an area off Sulawesi, Indonesia, where the sandy bottom was littered with coconut shells. The bipedal motion appears to mimic a floating coconut.

Amphioctopus marginatus FileCoconut Octopus Amphioctopus marginatus 8468811738jpg

Researchers from the Melbourne Museum in Australia claimed the coconut octopus uses tools for concealment and defense by gathering available debris to create a defensive fortress. This behavior was observed in individuals in Bali and North Sulawesi in Indonesia. The researchers filmed the octopus collecting coconut half-shells discarded by humans from the sea floor. They were then carried up to 20 meters (66 ft) and arranged around the body of the octopus to form a spherical hiding place similar to a clam-shell.

References

Amphioctopus marginatus Wikipedia


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