ABSTRACT
The photo on the right shows some very unusual behaviour-even for a Flamboyant cuttlefish. And so, it proved in 2009 when a team of marine biologists reported such behaviour in the Veined octopus-now fondly called the Coconut octopus. Location: Seririt, North Coast, Bali As discussed in the previous section, the Veined octopus, now popularly known as the Coconut octopus, has acquired cephalopod fame for its antics in adapting the abandoned halves of the shells to use as portable shelters. In this respect, the shapes adopted by schooling fish can provide useful insights. At least two species of batfish, both shown here, adopt this mimicking behaviour when juveniles. The eponymously named Mimic octopus, discovered in Sulawesi in 2000, displays a mesmerising repertoire of shifting shapes. In any case, the Mimic's protean talents to rapidly shape shift between displays while simultaneously flashing different colour patterns is likely to confuse the most determined of predators.
