By Josie July 7th, 2023
The expedition took place at the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, one of the world’s largest marine conservation areas.
The octopus, estimated to be 4,3 feet long, billows up like a huge balloon.
It expands and contracts, showcasing its remarkable ability to shapeshift.
As seen here, when threatened, some octopuses can inflate their bodies to appear larger and more intimidating.
Thanks to specialized cells in their skin, chromatophores, pigment-filled cells that can expand or contract, allow the octopus to change its color.
Their skin contains muscular hydrostats, structures similar to the human tongue, that can change shape.
Octopuses are boneless creatures, which allows them to change their shape dramatically and they can squeeze their entire body through tiny openings.
Octopuses use color changes to communicate, especially during mating rituals. Bright colors can signal readiness to mate.
By changing their appearance to match the seabed or coral reefs, octopuses can sneak up on their prey undetected.