Originally published in Seven Mile Times' Memorial Day issue, May 19, 2017
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To me the sea is a continual miracle; The
fishes that swim, ...
A CALL TO ARMS: MEET THE OCTOPUS
Nelson the Octopus
By Dr. Lenore Tedesco of The Wetlands Institute
T
he common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is one of the more interesting inhabitants of our local waters. Though its name suggests it’s common, people rarely see octopuses in their native environment and most people know very little about these fascinating creatures. They are delicious, of course, but I have to admit now that I know these creatures, I have a hard time including them among my menu choices. Octopuses are remarkable creatures and Nelson, the resident octopus in The Wetlands Institute aquarium, is really special and provides a great opportunity for you to get up close and personal and learn all about them. Octopuses are often captured as bycatch by fishermen, and this is how we came to have Nelson. Octopus mythology and symbolism is abundant through history, with the Kraken being legendary sea monsters that attack ships. The Kraken has been a mainstay in popular culture for years and continues to appear in literature and movies. Hank, the septopus (he lost one of his arms) in “Finding Dory,” helped bring more awareness about the wonders of octopus adaptations. I wanted to share some fun facts and information about common octopus to introduce you to one of our local inhabitants! Most folks
I speak with are surprised they live here. Nelson is especially charismatic. I invite you to explore some facts about our local octopus and then come and visit Nelson. Octopuses are mollusks that eat meat and typically hunt at dusk. Their favorite food includes crabs, clams and mussels, but they will eat almost anything they can catch. Octopuses have a hard “beak” that they can use to crush shells. They also catch prey in their powerful webbed arms with double rows of suckers. The suckers have a super sticky surface on each disk to help grasp Nelson greeting visitors in the aquarium.
prey. Similar to how sharks shed teeth, octopuses also shed the outer layer of skin on their suckers, making them super sticky again. Once they have captured their prey, they can then paralyze them with a nerve poison that is present in the octopus saliva. They are a cosmopolitan species, meaning they are widely distributed, and can be found in all of the oceans in both tropical and temperate areas. The common octopus varies widely in size from only about 12 inches long all the way up to 3 feet long. Nelson is only
about 12 inches long. Other species not found locally can be much larger. They live only about 1-2 years and die shortly after mating. The female can lay up to 200,000 eggs a few months after mating. Scientists estimate that less than 1 percent of the eggs laid by common octopuses will live to adulthood. Octopuses are pretty unique animals, starting with their body shape. They have large bulbous heads (mantel), large eyes, and of course – eight arms with suction cups. They have other pretty interesting features as well. For example, they have three hearts; their blood is copper-based, not iron; and they absorb oxygen through their skin. Octopuses can use jet propulsion to get around, where they force water through their bulbous mantel. Octopuses are very good at hiding to protect themselves from other predators. They can fit into remarkably small spaces, making them hard to see if they don’t want to be noticed. They collect shells and other objects to build fortresses around their lairs. Looking somewhat like Davey Jones protecting his locker, Nelson definitely practices this behavior. Octopuses also have a defense mechanism that includes squirting a cloud of ink into the water. The ink contains a substance that dulls a predator’s sense of smell, helping to further confuse a pursuing continued on page 56
Memorial Day 2017
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O u r m e m o r i e s o f t h e oce a n w i l l l i n g e r o n , l o n g a f t e r o u r fo o t p r i n t s i n t h e s a n d a re g o n e . ~Anonymous
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Nelson in his lair.
predator while the octopus uses the ink cloak to escape. And, if the going gets really tough, octopuses can lose an arm to a predator and grow it back later! Both in the wild and in captivity, octopuses are masters of disguise and can hide in plain sight. It’s a powerful defense mechanism. Octopuses can change their color and even the texture of their skin to blend in with their background. They use a network of tiny, color-changing cells called chromatophores that line their entire body. These pigment cells are located just below the surface of their skin and constrict or relax, causing varying levels of pigment to appear. This ability to change color, combined with specialized muscles in their skin that allow them to change their skin texture, allows octopuses to change colors and patterns and blend into their surroundings. They can shift their color and texture very rapidly so that as they move over the bottom, they can instantly change to match the new background. It’s pretty amazing to watch how much they can change and how quickly they are able to do so. Octopuses are considered the most intelligent of all invertebrates – that is, animals without backbones. They have very large brains but they also have a network of neurons that are distributed throughout their arms. In fact, about three-fifths of an octopus’s neurons are found in its tentacles, not its brain. They are very well studied and scientists have documented their ability to determine the size and shape of objects, remember patterns of objects, and problem solve. They are the only invertebrate found to exhibit tool use – a trait typically reserved for higher-order mammals. Because of their intelligence, octopuses in aquarium settings have been known to get into all kinds of mischief, including Memorial Day 2017
Nelson changing colors.
escaping to grab a midnight snack from neighboring tanks. The resident octopus at The Wetlands Institute is no exception. He is a very fast learner and can open a variety of containers to get his meal of mussels, fish or crab. He can even unscrew lids. Just like a child, he has his favorite toys that he can be seen playing with throughout the day. Right now, his favorites are a plastic screwdriver and a floating ball, but nothing will ever compare to the magnetic algae scrubber used to clean his tank. He has been known to steal these scrubbers and hide them for days! The scrubbers are white, so when you see Nelson looking pure white, you can be fairly certain he has the algae scrubber. We work hard to keep Nelson busy and amused. When you come to visit, be sure to play a game of octopus tag: Move from one side of the tank to the other and have our curious guy chase you! He’s particularly fond of colors, so wear something bright.
Nelson blending in with his surroundings.
SUMMER NATURE PROGRAM Spend a week discovering the Jersey Shore in a fun and hands-on way! Engage in science experimentation and exploration, play games, go on field trips, explore the beach, create arts and crafts, and much more, all while enjoying a new theme each week: Creation Nation; Explore the Shore: Have to Have a Habitat; Fins, Skins, Scales, Tails: Fashion & Function in the Wild Outdoors; Go with the Flow; Amazing Mammals in the Sea; Weather or Not; and Seashore Scientists & Their Tools for Exploration. For children ages 5-13, programs are held weekly from July 5-Aug. 16 and include field trips and beach days. Four-year-olds can enjoy special programs during the weeks of July 5, July 17, July 31 and Aug. 14. Children ages 4-5 attend programs daily from 9:30am-noon and children ages 6-13 attend programs daily from 9:30am-2pm.
SUMMER 2017 HAPPENINGS The Wetlands Institute is open daily from 9:30am-4:30pm with extended evening hours and activities until 7pm Tuesday-Thursday from June 13 to Labor Day! Activities include: • Salt Marsh Safari • Creature Feature • Catch ‘o the Day • Hooked on Fishing and Crabbing at the Dock • Special Evening Happenings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings • Kayak and Paddleboard Back Bay Tours • Back Bay Birding and Wildlife Boat Tours • And more!
Nelson turns white while holding the magnetic algae scrubber.
Visit wetlandsinstitute.org for a full schedule of daily activities and special events! WWW.SEVENMILETIMES.COM