A convincing mimic: Scientists report octopus imitating flounder in the Atlantic
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 - 23:35
in Biology & Nature
Cephalopod experts report the exceptional camouflage capabilities of the Atlantic longarm octopus, Macrotritopus defilippi, whose strategy for avoiding predators includes expertly disguising itself as a flounder. While researchers have documented two other species of octopuses imitating flounder in Indonesian waters, this is the first report of flounder mimicry by an Atlantic octopus, and only the fourth convincing case of mimicry for cephalopods.