Creature Feature: Cephalopod Acid Part 2: Blanket Octopus

Just when you thought the blue-ringed octopus was the trippiest thing in the sea, along comes this pretty lady. Along with many other cephalopods, the whole genus Tremoctopus was born when Mother Nature had some spiked punch. There are four species in that genus; the most well-known is T. violaceus. Geez, even the name sounds like something from a drug trip.

One of the first things that one immediately notices upon meeting a female blanket octopus is her namesake train. Blanket octopuses do not use ink to defend themselves; instead, they unfurl an amazingly long, beautiful cape that can be fractured easily and regenerated. As an added bonus, they also steal man o' war tentacles. Tentacle porn, much?

Unlike peacocks, grackles, birds of paradise, deer, and most other sexually-dimorphic animals with elaborate displays, the female blanket octopus is larger and more splendid. The male is significantly smaller - he is only 2.4 centimeters VS a 2 meter plus female. He drifts along waiting to get laid, which, in this case, means cutting off a sperm-filled tentacle for his massive honey. This dimorphism allows the male to mature faster and the female to give birth to as many healthy offspring as possible. Macrophilia is alive and well in nature, guys. (As if anacondas were not enough of a hint.)