![]() Males and females look as though their two different species! Female Blanket Octopuses may grow in excess of two meters in length, whereas males only reach a few centimeters. Taking advantage of their immunity, Blanket Octopuses will rip off the Man o' war's tentacles and use them to defend themselves from attacks. Interestingly, Blanket Octopus is immune to the poison of the Portuguese man o' war, a jellyfish-like invertebrate known for its deadly venom. Instead, the Blanket Octopus will unfurl its blanket, making it look significantly larger and intimidating, with the intention of scaring off whatever threatens it. The "blanket" is a defense mechanism, and a handy one too, as Blanket Octopuses do not have ink to ward off predators. Sightings are rare, making the Blanket Octopus an elusive and mysterious species. These species can be found in the open seas of the Mediterranean as well as the North and South Atlantic Ocean. They are called so because of the transparent webbing connecting their dorsal and dorsolateral arms, which resembles a large a large flowing blanket. The four species are the Common Blanket Octopus, Gelatinous Blanket Octopus, Palmate Octopus, and Tremoctopus Robsoni. These she holds in a sausage-shaped calcareous secretion held at the base of the dorsal arms and carries until hatching.Blanket Octopus is the common name used to describe four species of octopus belonging to the Tremoctopus genus. But the females then carry over 100,000 tiny eggs. Rather oddly, the male dies shortly after mating is completed. Like many other octopuses, the blanket octopus uses ink to intimidate potential predators. Also, when in danger, the female unfurls her large net-like membranes that spread out and billow in the water, greatly increasing her apparent size which is an evolutionary adaptation unique to this species. Further, the tentacles of this species, the male and immature females actually rip off and use for defensive purposes. Interestingly, the Blanket Octopus is also immune to the poisonous Portuguese Man O’ War. This makes yet another way in it separates itself from most other octopi. ![]() It also appears to inhabit a wide range of depths, as well. This unique physical characteristic sets it apart from other related species.ĬC License: The Blanket Octopus Distribution, Habitat, and Ecologyįirstly, the Blanket Octopus inhabits all known tropical and sub-tropical waters of the world. Further, this special tentacle is known as a hectocotylus. In addition, the males have a specially modified third right tentacle which stores their sperm. However, the most common colors display include silvery sides and dark blue or purple surfaces. This genus, like most of its relatives, has the ability to change color at will. ![]() Indeed, females often reach 6.6 ft (2 m) in length, whereas the tiny males at most only reach a few centimeters in length. Mimic Octopus Coconut Octopus Flapjack Octopus Source: ĬC License: The Blanket Octopus Physical DescriptionĬollectively, all of the known types of tremoctopus exhibit an extreme degree of sexual dimorphism. ![]() That’s because females may be up to as much as 10,000 times the size of the male. Most notably, this fascinating cephalopod displays the greatest degree of gender-based size difference among non-microscopic animals known to man.In fact, the other tentacles all develop significantly shorter and lack this unique type of webbing.Further, these connect the dorsal and dorsolateral tentacles of the adult females. The common name of the breathtaking creature, understandably, occurs due to the long transparent webs it develops.Also, the genus contains four currently known species that occupy surface to mid-waters in subtropical and tropical oceans. The Blanket Octopus, or Tremoctopus, forms a genus of pelagic cephalopods. ![]()
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