Biology:Amphioctopus marginatus
Amphioctopus marginatus | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Mollusca |
Class: | Cephalopoda |
Order: | Octopoda |
Family: | Octopodidae |
Genus: | Amphioctopus |
Species: | A. marginatus
|
Binomial name | |
Amphioctopus marginatus (Iw. Taki, 1964)
| |
Synonyms | |
|
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 and quadrupedal walking as well as tool use (gathering coconut shells and seashells and using these for shelter).
Taxonomy
Amphioctopus marginatus is a species of octopus located in the family Octopodidae, genus Amphioctopus. The species was first described in 1964 by Japanese malacologist Iwao Taki as Octopus marginatus, and synonymously as Amphioctopus marginatus. In 1976, Z. Dong named the species Octopus striolatus but this name was not recognized as taxonomically valid.[2][3]
Size and description
The main body of the octopus is normally 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 habits
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. The authors discovered this behavior in an area off Sulawesi, Indonesia, where the sandy bottom was littered with coconut shells.[4] The bipedal motion appears to mimic a floating coconut.[5]
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.[6][7][8] The researchers filmed the octopus collecting coconut half-shells from the sea floor that had been discarded by humans. 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.[7][9]
The species preys predominately on Calappa crabs and bivalves. Eggs are laid in clutches of 100,000 and are 3 millimetres (0.12 in) in length.[2]
Distribution
The coconut octopus is broadly endemic to neritic, tropical waters in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Northwest and Western Pacific Ocean, and Southeast Asian Sea. Amphioctopus marginatus is listed as Least Concern on the ICUN's Red List. While the species may be threatened by fishing, it's wide distribution is seen as enough to compensate against human impacts.[2]
Habitat
The species prefers shallow, subtidal waters along the continental shelf. The species has a maximum depth of 190 metres (620 ft), and can often be found in mud and sand substrates.[2]
See also
- Cephalopod intelligence
References
- ↑ Allen, G & Allcock, L (2018). "Amphioctopus marginatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T163176A980445. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T163176A980445.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163176/980445. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Amphioctopus marginatus". IUCN Red List. 2014. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/163176/980445.
- ↑ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Amphioctopus marginatus (Taki, 1964)". https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=534099.
- ↑ Sanders, Robert: Octopuses occasionally stroll around on two arms, UC Berkeley biologists report, University of California, Berkeley, March 24, 2005.
- ↑ Christine L. Huffard, Farnis Boneka, Robert J. Full: Underwater Bipedal Locomotion by Octopuses in Disguise, Science, March 25, 2005.
- ↑ Finn, Julian K.; Tregenza, Tom; Norman, Mark D. (2009), "Defensive tool use in a coconut-carrying octopus", Curr. Biol. 19 (23): R1069–R1070, doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.10.052, PMID 20064403.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Gelineau, Kristen (2009-12-15). "Aussie scientists find coconut-carrying octopus". The Associated Press. https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfq6qUad8oMqjmm0UKjxvMrFGaaAD9CJIGO80.
- ↑ Harmon, Katherine (2009-12-14). "A tool-wielding octopus? This invertebrate builds armor from coconut halves". Scientific American. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=a-tool-wielding-octopus-this-invert-2009-12-14.
- ↑ Henderson, Mark (2009-12-15). "Indonesia's veined octopus 'stilt walks' to collect coconut shells". Times Online. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/biology_evolution/article6956352.ece.
External links
- "CephBase: Amphioctopus marginatus". Archived from the original on 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050817053958/http://www.cephbase.utmb.edu/spdb/speciesc.cfm?CephID=772.
- Octopus uses coconuts - Video via EducatedEarth
- Octopus marginatus at National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)
- News
- BBC article with video
- Guardian article with video
- Video using 2 sea shells as a defense shelter
- Photos of Amphioctopus marginatus on Sealife Collection
Wikidata ☰ Q139978 entry
![]() | Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphioctopus marginatus.
Read more |