As we have seen throughout this course, natural selection favors whichever individual that is able to adapt and pass on their genetic information. However, survival can be very challenging; from trying to find food, a mate, territory and staying alive, one has to possess certain skills. Therefore, each animal must develop a way to survive throughout evolution. Certain features like the animal’s morphology play a role in adaptation. Moreover, certain behaviors whether acquired genetically or learned are also crucial. Some animals interestingly, develop camouflage to protect and hide themselves from predators. Cephalopods are well known for this type of behavior.
Among some of these interesting animals, is the Thaumoctopus mimicus commonly…show more content… Most animals use mimicry as a form of survival strategy. Being a boneless fleshy creature, no spines and no poison, this makes the octopus a very desirable prey to any creature in the sea with teeth and a stomach; hence, it should find a way to stay alive. The octopus takes mimicry to a whole new level, not only that it can use camouflage, it can also mimic not one but many different animals. It mimics the shape, swimming patterns, speed, duration, and the coloration of the animal in question mainly for defense purposes. The stimuli that affect the choice that the mimic makes depend on the particularities of the predators in the area, the proximity, appetite and environment of the octopus. Interestingly enough, all those animals that the octopus mimics are venomous, which adds to the likelihood that this mimicry behavior is a type of survival tactic. Scientist are unaware whether the octopus is toxic to predators. It is also conflicted about whether the octopus’ ways of defending itself are learned or inherited. According to DNA sequence analysis, the traits developed in the following sequence: the ability to immediately to change from camouflage to bold brown and white stripes in order to confuse a predator if camouflage is unsuccessful; next, it simultaneously developed its lengthy arms and its flatfish swimming ability; at last, it rolled all these traits together. The octopus takes a risk by displaying conspicuous…show more content… Some of the mechanisms that the octopus uses for defense are also use in mating. It is still unknown of what mechanisms octopus uses to recognize each other, whether it color or scent. However, it is certain that they use individual recognition. After meeting another, they remember the acquaintance for at least a day. When octopuses meet for the first, they use their tentacles to touch each other. They don’t make any sounds; they communicate through changing their body color patterns. As mentioned earlier, the chromophores are used for this purpose. It is believed however, that most octopuses are asocial, solitary animals. They are territorial, but they can coexist in their neighborhood peacefully which suggest that they are able to identify their neighbor and not seeing them as
