Octopus of the Lembeh Strait

My first Wonderpus!

  One of my big missions for this trip to Indonesia was to find and photograph the elusive wonderpus octopus. The scientific name of this octopus, Wonderpus photogenicus, is a testament to just how beautiful this animal is. I was in luck. Over twenty dives in the Lembeh Strait we found five different wonderpus octopi. We also saw a mimic octopus, a couple of coconut octos, long arm octopus, and two shaggy octopi.

Wonderpus photogenicus

 Octopi are incredibly intelligent, probably the most intelligent invertebrates on the planet. They are highly evolved predators and boasts some amazing defensive strategies. They can change color in an instant, problem solve, and squeeze through a opening slightly larger than their beak.

Mimic Octopus

  

Coconut Octopus and its home bottle

  Even though it was the wonderpus I was hoping to find, the coconut octopus really stole the show. They are so cute, peering out from their hiding places. The are known for carrying around their home with them. The first one we came across made an old broken bottle its home. The deep purple on the octo's arms provided a color that is seldom seen on the reef. The deep green of the glass bottle added its own colorful flair.

  All my best octopus pictures are here: http://www.daimarsphotos.com/Animals/Octopus-Cuttlefish-and-Squids/

Long Arm Octopus

  Octopus move by filling their mantle with water and then jetting it out of their siphon. It is the same idea as jet propulsion. Here a wonderpus on the left and a long arm octo on the right show off their swimming techniques.

  I learned that all octopus are venomous, however our search for the most dangerous octopus, the blue ring, came up empty. As I like to say, always leave a reason to go back.

Wonderpus in Flight

On the last day I finally snagged the shot I had been hoping for: Wonderpus in mid water