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GIANT PACIFIC OCTOPUS
INTRODUCTION
also
in this section:
Octopus reproduction
Jim Cosgrove's Octopus Adventures
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JIM COSGROVE'S
OCTOPUS ADVENTURES
As an underwater diver and a marine biologist, I have had many encounters
with octopuses. Most are during the day at the octopus's den. I use an
underwater light to look into holes in the rock to see if an octopus is
there. Sometimes, I can find the remains of octopus meals (crab or scallop
shells) outside a den and this helps me find the octopus. An octopus in
a den will not generally come out and no human is strong enough to pull
it out. Sometimes, if you are patient, the octopus will reach out one
or two arms and touch you (actually taste you is more accurate). Sometimes
they will try and pull you into the den - I've had my mask pulled off
several times, and my gloves too. This could be very scary and dangerous
for an inexperienced diver. A diver could drown if the octopus pulled
the regulator (which controls the diver's air supply) out of his mouth.
Sometimes I have been
fortunate enough to see an octopus in the open. Often it will try to hide
under kelp or among rocks, changing colour and skin texture to match the
surroundings. It will also lay all of its suckers against the bottom so
that you cannot see them (the white suckers are one of the few pieces
of skin that cannot change colour). The octopus might also hold its breath
so that you cannot see the white of the inside of the mantle (the other
piece of skin that cannot change colour); an octopus can hold its breath
for more than 5 minutes. If you touch the octopus, it may react by grabbing
you and the ocean bottom very hard. It may also squirt ink in your face
and then jet away from you.
Octopuses seldom want
to have anything to do with humans. They likely don't know what we are
but fear us as a predator. Octopuses are powerful animals and should not
be touched or handled unless you know exactly what you are doing and have
a partner with you to help if there is a problem.
BIOGRAPHY
FOR JAMES (JIM) A. COSGROVE
A scuba diver for more than
40 years and a certified diving instructor since 1971, Jim has long been
interested in the plants and animals of the ocean. An accomplished underwater
photographer and videographer, Jim and his wife own and operate J & J
DIVERS, a company devoted to assisting underwater image makers. They have
been involved in numerous projects producing documentary television programs
as well as scientific and popular articles about the Giant Pacific Octopus.
Jim has served, since 1973, as the Diving Safety Officer at the University
of Victoria and is a founding member of the Canadian Association for Underwater
Science. After obtaining a Bachelor and Master of Science degree (Marine
Biology) Jim worked for 10 years in the Biology Department of a community
college before moving, in 1987, to a new position at the Royal British
Columbia Museum. Jim is currently the Chief of Natural History Collections
at the Royal British Columbia Museum. He supervises a staff of 7 who care
for more than half a million specimens. Jim resides in Victoria with his
wife and daughter.
PART
1: Introduction
PART 2: Octopus Reproduction
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