Arm in Arm: Diving With the Giant Pacific Octopus
In Arm in Arm: Diving With the Giant Pacific Octopus, ecologist David Scheel dives into Alaska’s waters to find the giant Pacific octopus, the largest octopus species in the world. Using clues like discarded crab shells, he locates a massive octopus that reaches out curiously and touches David’s arms. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.
Lesson Express
Q: What can the pile of crab shells outside the octopus's den tell researchers about its behavior?
A: The pile of crab shells indicates that the octopus feeds on crabs, and it discards the empty shells outside its den. This behavior helps scientists locate the octopus and understand its eating habits.
Q: How does the size of the giant Pacific octopus compare with the size of the diver, and what does this suggest about its role in the ocean ecosystem?
A: The giant Pacific octopus can be as large as the diver, making it one of the largest octopus species. Its size suggests that it is a powerful predator in its environment, capable of hunting and defending itself in the deep ocean.
Q: What might the diver learn about octopus intelligence by observing its interaction with him underwater?
A: By observing the octopus’s behavior, such as how it reaches out and touches the diver, the diver might learn that octopuses are highly curious and have a level of awareness and intelligence that allows them to explore and interact with their environment in sophisticated ways.
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In Born Ready: The Secret Lives of Newborn Octopuses, Squid, and Cuttlefish, ecologist David Scheel joins fellow researcher Brett to explore the fascinating world of newborn octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish. These creatures are born with the ability to change color while still in their sac, preparing them for life underwater. As soon as they hatch, they are independent hunters, capable of targeting prey even larger than themselves. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.
In Hiding in Plain Sight: The Octopus That Invented a Mobile Home, a veined octopus in Indonesia amazes researchers with its clever survival skills. Living on sandy ocean flats, it carries coconut shells to create a portable shelter. By using these shells to hide and ambush prey, the octopus becomes one of the rare animals — less than 1% — to demonstrate tool use and thinking ahead. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.
In Octopus IQ: The Jar Challenge, ecologist David Scheel introduces Heidi the octopus to a clever challenge — a jar with a crab inside and a screw top lid. As Heidi figures out how to unscrew the lid, Scheel explains the remarkable way octopus intelligence works: their smarts aren’t just in their head but also in their eight arms, which can act independently of each other. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: The Octopus in My House, a remarkable series about a professor and the extraordinary relationship he develops with an octopus when he invites it to live in his home.