The Octopus' Camouflage

What does an octopus do when it is spotted by a predator? Its main defence is to hide, either not to be seen at all, or not to be detected as an octopus. However, the most common defence is fast escape. Other defences include the use of ink sacs, camouflage and autotomising of limbs (detaching its limbs).

An octopus' camouflage is aided by certain specialised skin cells which can change the apparent colour, opacity and reflectiveness of the epidermis. Chromatophores contain yellow, orange, red, brown or black pigments. Most species have three of these colours while some have two or four. Other colour-changing cells are reflective iridophores and leucophores (white). This colour-changing ability can also be used to communicate with or warn other octopi.The poisonous blue-ringed octopus becomes bright yellow with blue rings when it is provoked. Octopi can use muscles in the skin to change the texture of their mantle (surface layer) to achieve a greater camouflage. In some species the mantle can take on the spiky appearance of seaweed or the scraggly, bumpy texture of a rock. However, in some species the skin structure is limited to relatively patternless shades of one colour and limited skin texture.

Let's view the following clip on the different camouflages of the octopus.



Test Your Science
1. How is the octopus able to camouflage itself from its predator?

Get to know the Best Camouflaged Creatures in the forest in the Young Scientists Issue 117 Level 1.