Remember last column when I talked about how much I like the octopus? Well I wasn’t lying, because we’re going back to those 8 armed freaks again this column to talk about one specific little fella that I’m pretty sure none of you have heard of. Except maybe for the cephalopod geeks out there. 
This column is all about a recent discovery (1998 off the coast of Sulawesi, one of the four larger Sundra islands of Indonesia. Never heard of them? What did I say last column about getting out and exploring?) that we are still learning more about; the Mimic Octopus, or if you want to address him formally; Thaumoctopus mimicus. But really, he’s a pretty cool guy, you can call him Mims. For this very very formal document though, we shall refer to the common name.
I’m betting I gave away the whole story already just by mentioning his name, haven’t I? The Mimic Octopus is an octopus that mimics other marine life. What kind of marine life? Venomous of course (this column is actually staying on topic! Huzzah!). For all those paying attention at home, you may be wondering why a venomous animal (as all octopuses are) would imitate other venomous animals? Good question.
The reason is that the Mimic Octopus can imitate up to 15 other venomous animals. All of these are other venomous predators, and it is thought that it chooses which one to imitate based on what of its own predators is attacking it.
Need an example? The Mimic is native to the Pacific/Indonesian waters, typically silty estuaries where visibility is poor. One of its natural predators is damselfish. When a damselfish comes after it, it will assume the look of a banded sea snake by burying 6 of its 8 arms and changing its colour pattern so the 2 remaining arms look like two banded sea snakes, which is a predator of the damselfish.
Pretty crafty move I’d say. It also lives in these areas of poor visibility to further it’s scheme, it’s not exactly replicating the animal it imitates, just kinda sorta looking like it. The poor visibility will no doubt help this. Just all around one smart little fella, don’t ya think?
The other animals they have been observed to imitate are; the sole, a flat fish; The lionfish with its distinct poisonous pointy fins; Stingrays and their feared venomous tail spine; The jellyfish and it’s many stinging tentacles; Along with slightly less interesting, but still useful animals like brittle stars, sea shells, sea anemones, flounders and mantis shrimp.
Why all the choices, you wonder? Well variety is the spice of life for one. It could also be the key to survival. If every time the Mimic was approached by a predator it imitated the same animal, well the predators just may get a little suspicious of this, wouldn’t they? It has adapted to its predators possible adaptation.
All this imitation, and pretending to be something you’re not just to get by though, I couldn’t do it. The only way I seem to survive is by being myself, but I suppose everyone must do what they can to get by. I don’t hold it against you my pal the Mimic, but I couldn’t be you, or even imitate the thought.
The last kinda disturbing mechanism that it will use its imitation for is as a way to fool its prey. It has been known to imitate a crab, attract a suitor crab of like minded relations interest, and then eat it. Can you imagine that? ‘Oh wow, look at that pretty lady over there! Hey honey, how are you doing?’ Chomp.
What else can be said about our pal the Mimic? Not much. That there was the Coles Notes version my friends.
What I would like to mention is an animal that gets confused with the Mimic. Not because this other animal mimics the Mimic, but because they are similarly patterned when au naturel.
The name of this similarly-attired deep sea cousin, coloured of the Mimic? The Wonderpus Photogenicus. Seriously, say it out loud. Not only is it a name that makes you think ‘this must be one looker of an octopus,’ but the name just rolls off the tongue. Go ahead and say it again!
Pretty photogenicus himself,
Matt Yeoman
PHOTOS SOURCES: Advanced Aquarist, MichaelAw, edwindwianto, Guardian, Web Ecoist
About Halibut Herald
