Posts Tagged With: science

World Octopus Day!

Woohoo- we’re celebrating thew wonderful and intelligent Octopus today! With eight great arms to hug you with- we couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up Cephalopod Appreciation Week!

Let’s learn some fun facts about octopus and print our coloring sheet!

• There are over 100 species of octopus in the world’s oceans.
• The Blue-ringed octopus has venom that can paralyze an adult human.
• Octopuses are known to use tools.
• Octopuses are masters of camouflage.
• A common octopus has 240 suckers on each arm.
• The oldest known octopus fossil found is 296 million years old.
• Octopuses have 3 hearts.
• The word octopus comes from a Greek word that means, eight foot.
• Octopuses have blue blood.

Who wants to cuttle?

Today’s cephalopod is a common cuttlefish! We are so excited introduce this little invertebrate to you!

• Common cuttlefish live off the west coast of Britain to the Baltic Sea to South Africa.
• Cuttlefish are carnivores. They eat shrimp, copepods and small fish.
• IUCN Conservation status: least concern.
• They grow to about 15 inches and weigh up to 8 lbs.
• Cuttlefish have one long fin around their body that runs behind the head.
• Cuttlefish, like squid have 8 arms with suckers and two tentacles to grab prey.
• Cuttlefish are able to change their color and texture in seconds. They are masters in camouflage.
• Cuttlefish have a shell inside their body which is called the cuttlebone. It helps the cuttlefish with buoyancy.
• They can use jet propulsion to help them get away quickly. They expel water in from their body to move fast!
• Cuttlefish can also release ink to deter predators.

Cuttlefish are intelligent creatures. We have met several over the years. They are so amazing to watch. Their ability to change color and texture is fascinating.

Meet a Giant!

We are celebrating Cephalopod Appreciation Week with a giant- a giant squid that is! We are super excited to share some great facts about these amazing creatures!

There isn’t much known about these mysterious animals, but what we do know is fascinating!

• Giant squid inhabit the deep oceans all over the world.
• Giant squid are the largest invertebrates in the world!
• They can growth up to 60 feet in length and weigh almost a 1,000 lbs! WOW!
• Giant squids are carnivores, they eat squid, fish and maybe even small whales.
• It wasn’t until 2006, that researchers took a picture of a live giant squid!
• Giant squid have eight arms and two tentacles that use to get food.

• Like other squid, they have sharp beaks to eat their prey.
• The only known predator of a giant squid is the sperm whale.
• Giant squid arms have small suction cups that have serrated edges to help them catch their prey! Just imagine a cup with a rim like a knife! Ouch!

Wowzers! Giant squid are just mind blowing! There have been tales told of these “monsters” for hundreds of years told by sailors! Luckily these deep sea dwellers aren’t out hunting boats! The oceans are full of animals that we have know so little about!