#cephalpod

“The greater blue-ringed octopus is one of several species of blue-ringed octopuses. All are thought to be venomous and for their size, they are the most deadly of all cephalopods. It is said that the venom of this octopus could kill 26 adults in just a few minutes. There is no antivenom for treatment. Fortunately, these octopuses do not attack humans. Injury typically occurs when a blue-ringed octopus is stepped on or picked up.” (Source)

Cephalopods, especially octopuses, are fascinating creatures. At sea level, an octopus can generate an impressive pressure differential of 1 to 2 atmospheres with each of its suckers. That incredible grip is possible thanks to fluid dynamics. An octopus’s sucker consists of two main parts: the ring-shaped infundibulum on the outer surface and the inner, cup-shaped acetabulum. When the infundibulum makes contact with a surface, it creates a water-tight seal. The octopus then contracts radial muscles along the acetabulum. This expands the inner chamber. The water trapped in the acetabulum now has to take up a greater volume, causing the pressure to drop and creating suction. To let go, the octopus simply relaxes the radial muscles or contracts circular ones to reduce the chamber volume and release the suction. (Video credit: Deep Look)

#Repost @danidander ・・・ Octopus...damn tentacles @patrickjspence @danjmurphy @after.d4rk @zeeezhang #coffeetomo #marinelife #aquatic #sealife #cottonwoodarts #copicart #copicmarkers #dynamicsketching #sketchday #sketch #drawing #coffeetomo #coffee #cephalpod #wildlife

A truly eye-catching focal point for your living room, dining room, or office, this unique Octopus End Table brings the mystery of the deep right into your decor. Cast from sturdy aluminum and sculpted to represent the organic shape of an octopus and its tentacles, this table features a solid glass top that enhances the visual on all sides. A stunning tribute to nature's incredible design, the Octopus End Table is sure to become a popular piece in any location. (via Octopus End Table | Decor | Furniture | SPI)

Image of a Broadclub cuddlefish (sepia latimanus) courtesy Jan Messersmith, used with permission under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license.