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Amazing facts about cephalopods

 
A cuttlefish in ostentatious stripe pattern. Picture: D.L. Cohen, DLC Photography.

What octopuses, squids and other cephalopods have in common is that they have several tentacles at their head, that are used to catch prey and to pull it towards the mouth. 

Among molluscs, cephalopods are a group rather small in number: Only about 650 different species are known. Nevertheless, octopuses and squids have made their way into the world of human legends, always a part of which remains the truth.

Who would have thought, that there are truly squids 70 feet in length that fight legendary fights in deep sea against their worst enemy, the sperm whale?

Possibly not all tales are true, but certainly more than we believe.

Octopuses are able to find their way through a labyrinth, they can open jars screwed shut - abilities one would rather expect in a mammal than in a boneless mollusc. Cuttlefish can change their outer appearance and their colour better than a chameleon could, and there are some octopuses that are so poisonous they can kill a human within seconds.

It is a goal of this homepage to bring this fascinating group a little bit more to your understanding and wake your interest for a group of animals whose life often enough takes place concealed from our sight.

 
  One glimpse on cephalopods:

  Chapter overview:

Lesser Octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) from the north sea.
Photo: by courtesy of Erling Svensen.

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