The Cellar - Dec 16, 2009: Octopus Uses Coconut as Shelter

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- - Dec 16, 2009: Octopus Uses Coconut as Shelter (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=21646)

Dec 16, 2009: Octopus Uses Coconut as Shelter

You've gotta be really quick if you're going to post an IOTD here. This is the first I've done since the option for anyone to post them was opened up.

We know octopi are smart. We've already got a video somewhere on here of one opening a jar. But now it seems we're finding out that they snag and use coconuts as shelter.

This *is* a pretty cool revelation, and it is being cited as a unique example of tool use by an invertebrate. Now, I'm no taxonomist, but...what about hermit crabs and the shells they glom onto? Isn't this basically the same behavior?

Nevertheless, it is an interesting view of a critter that we assume to be inferior to ourselves.

Fun video here.

ha! I was just going to post the same thing. That is so cool.

Octopus in coconut mmm-mmmm :yum:

Already boneless and in a natural crockpot... :yum: and easy.

An interesting detail is that coconuts don't naturally break like that- those are human-opened coconut husks.

or screw top coconuts

I win...I had pictures and shit. NO...wait...I'm not unique and important!!!

Where's that shotgun?

Oh, wait. No, I'm good. I used the proper plural for more than one octopus.

Octopussies is funnier, tho'

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode (Post 617833)

Nevertheless, it is an interesting view of a critter that we assume to be inferior to ourselves.

No, just tastier.

Quote:

No, I'm good. I used the proper plural for more than one octopus.

Orly?

Quote:

wiki
The term octopus, pronounced /ˈɒktəpʊs/, is from Greek ὀκτάπους (oktapous), "eight-footed",[29][30] with plural forms: octopuses /ˈɒktəpʊsɪz/, octopi /ˈɒktəpaɪ/, or octopodes /ɒkˈtɒpədiːz/. Currently, octopuses is the most common form in the US as well as the UK; octopodes is rare, and octopi is often objectionable.[31]

The Oxford English Dictionary (2004 update[32]) lists octopuses, octopi and octopodes (in that order); it labels octopodes "rare", and notes that octopi derives from the mistaken assumption that octōpūs is a second declension Latin noun, which it is not. Rather, it is a Latinization of Greek third-declension masculine oktṓpous (ὀκτώπους, 'eight-foot'), plural oktṓpodes (ὀκτώποδες). If the word were native to Latin, it would be octōpēs, plural octōpedes, after the pattern of pēs ('foot'), plural pedēs, analogous to "Centipede"[33]. The actual Latin word for octopus and other similar species is polypus, from Greek polýpous (πολύπους, 'many-foot'); usually the inaccurate plural polypī is used instead of polypodēs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jinx (Post 617879)

Orly?

I think what you have to do is count the tentacles and convert that to the appropriate prefix. Thus:
One creature = eight tentacles = an octopus
Two creatures = 16 tentacles = a hexadecapus
Three creatures = 24 tentacles = a quadricosopus

You have to check carefully to see if one has lost a tentacle.

If you're talking about the species in general, try a plethorapus.

Balderdash, it's a Squid. :p

octopodes?!? :thepain:

Octopi is objectionable... :headshake