reef octopus hunting @ terumbu semakau - July 2014

Came across this octopus just before dawn as it used up the last few minutes before dawn to complete its search for food. It kept searching around various rocks and algae clumps with its tentacles causing a good many small crabs, prawns and fish to scramble out of the way. It was interesting to see the instantaneous changes in colour as the octopus went about searching its neighbourhood. I did not see it catch anything during the few minutes of observation.

reef octopus hunting @ terumbu semakau - July 2014 from SgBeachBum on Vimeo.

Find out more about the reef octopus :

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/reefoctopus.htm

and other octopii :

http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/octopus.htm

daylight hunting octopus @ t.bemban besar 22May2011

It was surprising to see not one but two small octopus out hunting in broad daylight. Normally, octopus are seen on an exposed submerged reef at night or in the early hours of the morning.

These actively went about using their tentacles to probe around and under rocks, coral and sponges looking for food such as crabs and small fish.

octopus escape @ Hantu 22Jan2011

Octopus : Came across this Octopus heading back to its lair in the seawall. The tide had gone out pretty much and it had to do some quick gymnastics over the rocks to get into its hiding place. Note how the octopus uses its arms to 'see' where it should go before it decides.  And also the amazing instantaneous colour changes!


octopus escape @ Pulau Hantu 22Jan2011 from BeachBum on Vimeo.

Presumably, this was the two-spot octopus commonly seen on Singapore's Southern shores.
Read more about it here : http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/twospot.htm

Octopus Hunt @ 03Jan2010

octopus hunt from BeachBum on Vimeo

Octopuses hunt mainly at night. They hide during the day time and come out at about dusk from rock crevices or holes.

They move about silently spreading their tentacles around and into rocks and coral boulders looking for crabs and fish.

The octopus featured in the videoclip was about palm sized and was itself heavily camouflaged with a dark mottled skin pattern. Further, it's skin was contorted into a warty fashion. It got lucky feeling under the rock and seems to have caught a fish which must have been hiding under the rock. The fish did put up a good fight trying to escape but the octopus held firm despite the fish's kicks and jolts.

octopus @ terumbu raya 09Feb2009

octopus @ terumbu raya 09Feb2009 from BeachBum on Vimeo.
This small octopus shot out from below a clump of sargassum and swam towards a rock. It's colour effortlessly changed from a dark red to a pale mottled pattern to fit the rock it swam to. It quickly slid below the rock to hide.

My guess is that the one observed in the clip was a two-spot octopus.

Read more about the types of Singapore's octopus here :
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/twospot.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/smooth.htm
http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/mollusca/cephalopoda/octopusnoid.htm

octopus surprise @ hantu

octopus surprise @ hantu from BeachBum on Vimeo.
An octopus is always a surprise. This one appeared within a rockpool and constantly changed it's patterns. It's ability to pulsate it's patterns and colours at will and on demand is simply amazing!

More interesting facts ...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2818659

ze great octopus escape @ Labrador Nature Reserve

ze great octopus escape - part 1 from BeachBum on Vimeo.


ze great octopus escape - part 2 from BeachBum on Vimeo.


ze great octopus escape - part 3 from BeachBum on Vimeo.

See also http://sgbeachbum.blogspot.com/2008/06/great-octopus-escape-15-june2008.html