Octopuses can change the texture of their skin thanks to specialized cells called chromatophores, which contain pigments and can stretch to modify the appearance of the animal and blend into their environment.
Octopuses change their skin texture thanks to small specific muscles called dermal papillae. These papillae are like mini-reliefs that are directly controlled by the nervous system, contracting or relaxing extremely quickly based on what the animal sees or feels. As a result, the skin can almost instantaneously shift from a smooth appearance to bumpy or rough, mimicking surrounding rocks, corals, or algae. This highly flexible mechanism allows the octopus to effectively adapt to various seabeds, thus avoiding becoming a snack.
In octopuses, impressive camouflage relies on several specialized skin cells. Chromatophores are pigment cells that stretch or contract, modulating their color on the surface of the skin. Iridophores, on the other hand, act like tiny reflective mirrors, manipulating light to create shine and reflections. Finally, leucophores reflect ambient light, adapting the overall hue of the animal to that of its environment. Combined, these cells create a range of tones, patterns, and textures that allow the octopus to blend perfectly into its surroundings.
Octopuses are equipped with a particularly developed nervous system that directly controls their skin. Through a complex network of neurons, they precisely control small subcutaneous muscles called muscular papillae. These papillae contract or relax on neural command, allowing the skin to quickly change in relief and texture. The most impressive part is that these transformations occur almost instantly, in direct response to visual information captured by their eyes and interpreted by their brain. There's no need to think about it: everything works automatically and perfectly coordinated for effective camouflage down to the second.
Being able to change the texture of its skin is incredibly useful for escaping predators. By quickly blending into the surrounding environment, the octopus conserves energy, limits unnecessary movement, and effectively avoids being spotted and eaten. This strategy also allows it to become a formidable predator: camouflaged against a rock or on the ocean floor, it easily surprises its prey. This talent for discretion enhances its chances of survival and its ability to reproduce, thus promoting the transmission of these skills to its offspring. In short, mastering the art of textural camouflage gives the octopus a significant advantage in the ruthless underwater natural selection.
The octopus's dynamic camouflage is so effective that it is currently inspiring the design of adaptive textures used in smart textiles, military equipment, and even medical technologies.
The mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) is famous for its remarkable ability to imitate the shape, color, and movements of various marine species, such as flatfish, sea snakes, or even jellyfish.
Octopuses not only have neurons in their brain, but also in their arms: about two-thirds of their neurons are located in their tentacles, allowing them to perceive and analyze their environment, even independently of their brain.
Chromatophores, specialized cells responsible for color change in octopuses, can be consciously controlled, giving the animal exceptional precision in adapting its skin to the environment.
Octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish all use chromatophores to change color. However, octopuses also have very fine muscular control over their dermal papillae, allowing them to change the texture of their skin. Squids and cuttlefish have less pronounced textural abilities and rely more on color displays and ink release for their camouflage.
Octopuses voluntarily change their texture in response to their environment through the conscious action of their highly developed nervous system. However, some initial camouflage reactions can be very quick, almost reflexive in situations of stress or immediate danger.
Octopuses are capable of rapidly changing the appearance of their skin, including texture and colors. These changes can occur in just a fraction of a second, allowing them to be highly responsive to their environment or potential threats.
Most octopuses possess this ability to some extent, but benthic species (living on the seafloor), such as the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) or the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus), are particularly adept at refining their texture camouflage to blend into their habitat.
The main predators of octopuses include certain sharks, carnivorous fish, seabirds, and marine mammals such as dolphins. Camouflage allows them to effectively evade these predators by hiding visually or adopting a deterrent appearance.
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