If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 618

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant Pacific Octopus

 

This unused postcard comes from the Seattle Aquarium and was shared by Bob’s son who, with his wife and children, visited us this summer.  The Aquarium was one of several places they enjoyed while they were here. 

 

The blurb at the upper left corner on the reverse of the card says:  “Giant Pacific octopus:  The world’s largest octopus species is found throughout the Salish Sea—and even directly below our pier!  Learn about these fascinating, intelligent animals at SeattleAquarium.org/octopus.” 

 

The Salish Sea is comprised of Puget Sound (Seattle), the Strait of Juan de Fuca (San Juan Islands), and the Georgia Strait (Vancouver Island).  These animals are found in the North Pacific Ocean from Baja California (Mexico) up along the coastline from California to Alaska and across to Russia, Eastern China, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.  They are best adapted to the cold, oxygen rich water found from the inter-tidal zone to depths up to 6,600 ft or 2,000 m.  The average large adult octopuses typically weigh about 33 lbs or 15 kg.  The arm span can reach to 14 ft or 4.3 m. Very large ones have been weighed at 110 lbs or 50 kg with an arm span of 20 ft or 6 m. 

 

Their diet consists of a variety of sea creatures, such as, shrimp, crabs, scallops, abalone, cockles, snails, clams, lobsters, fish, squid, and even other octopuses.  Their long tentacles or arms with suckers snare the food and the tough beak is used to bite into the prey. 

 

Astonishingly, the female lays between 120,000 and 400,000 eggs!  After mating, she can hold the spermatheca in her own body for several months until she is ready to fertilize them.  One of the female octopuses at the Seattle Aquarium waited seven months before laying her eggs.  The eggs are preyed upon by many other sea creatures and require the female to constantly watch over and tend the eggs until they hatch.  Unlike the males, the females only breed a single time in their life.  While she is tending and watching over the eggs and fighting off predators she does not eat and is believed to eventually die of starvation shortly after the eggs hatch. 

 

Ranked as the most intelligent of invertebrates, the Giant Pacific octopuses are often on display in aquariums.  It has been observed that they can recognize humans with whom they frequently have contact.  Sometimes they will respond by jetting water or changing body texture when they see a person they know.  They can solve simple puzzles, open childproof bottles, and use tools.  According the the Wikipedia article, “…they have been known to open tank valves, disassemble expensive equipment, and generally wreak havoc in labs and aquaria.  Some researchers even claim they are capable of motor play and having personalities.” 

 

Thanks R for sharing the postcard!

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Pacific_octopus