Mimic or Wunderpus?

[ReefScavengers]

Please help me ID this guy!

 

[monty]

Mucktopus' page on telling them apart was removed when she left Berzerkeley, but here's the internet archives copy, albeit with some of the pictures missing:

http://web.archive.org/web/20070524...ley.edu/~chuffard/index_files/WunderMimic.htm

perhaps she can fill in the missing details (or, even, perhaps re-publish it as a TONMO article, hint, hint)

 

[Colin]

was the pic removed?

 

[Thales]

Wunderpus.
It does have interesting mantle markings, but the suckers, the patterning, the arms and the horns on the eyes all say wunderpus.

And it looks like a male.

 

[monty]

(thread moved to "exotics"-- no worries, just that's the policy for wunderpus and mimics)

 

[Keith]

what seperates mimics and wunderpus from octopi?

 

[shipposhack]

Mimic and Wonderpus (Thaumoctopus mimicus and Wonderpus Photogenicus respectively) are rare species of octopus in which wild populations have not been assessed. In the wild they have incredible displays and are very interesting, however they almost never do well in aquariums; rarely living longer than a few weeks.

 

[Keith]

ah. theyre spoken about like theyre not themselves octopi. so does anyone know where theyre from? how come they arent as researched as other octopi? just curious.

 

[Keith]

wait a second you're from sandy dude? thats a coincidence. i lived there for a while. my parents still do. went to alta and all.

 

[shipposhack]

They are found in mud flats around Indonesia. Their niche is small and they burrow in the mud so it takes luck or patience to observe them. Both are recently discovered and no biologist has taken the time yet to study them in-depth enough to know much about their behaviors or lifestyle.

That's cool; I go to Jordan .

 

[Keith]

thats cool. never heard of an inland octo before. yea sandy is pretty cool. its really quiet tho. ive never been able to find a party there. and a dry county on weekends?! thats weak. on the other hand, there are a majority of mormons.

 

[shipposhack]

That's what you get in Utah .

 

[Keith]

yea. its cool though. everyones polite, and you can leave your doors unlocked and your windows open and not worry. and houses with basements are cool.