Born Ready: The Secret Lives of Newborn Octopuses, Squid, and Cuttlefish
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.
Lesson Express
Q: Why are octopuses considered "hardwired predators" right from birth? How does this instinctive behavior benefit them in their early survival?
A: Octopuses are born with a natural hunting ability, meaning they don't need to learn how to hunt. This instinct allows them to quickly find food and protect themselves. It’s crucial for their survival since they are born without any parental care and must rely on themselves immediately.
Q: How does the camouflage ability of squid and cuttlefish help them in their early stages of life?
A: Camouflage helps squid and cuttlefish blend into their environment, hiding from predators and making it easier to hunt prey. This ability allows them to stay safe while learning how to adapt to the world around them, even as newborns.
Q: What might the ability of octopuses to go after prey much larger than themselves tell us about their survival instincts?
A: This shows that octopuses are highly skilled predators and are not deterred by the size of their prey. Their ability to attack animals larger than themselves suggests they have strong problem-solving abilities and are capable of using strategy and force to capture food for survival.
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In Living With an Octopus: A Pet With Personality, we meet Heidi, a day octopus living in the home of ecologist David Scheel who’s uncovering the secrets of her personality. Unlike in a research aquarium, Heidi’s relaxed home setting lets her express herself fully, from crafting her sleeping spaces to bonding with David’s daughter, Laurel. 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.
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 Living With an Octopus: A Pet With Personality, we meet Heidi, a day octopus living in the home of ecologist David Scheel who’s uncovering the secrets of her personality. Unlike in a research aquarium, Heidi’s relaxed home setting lets her express herself fully, from crafting her sleeping spaces to bonding with David’s daughter, Laurel. 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.
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.