Science

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts) Thu Feb 15, 2018, 12:51 AM Feb 2018

This Rare Video of a Tiny Baby Octopus Hatching Is Breaking The Internet

SO CUTE.

MICHELLE STARR 14 FEB 2018

Most of us won't ever get to see a baby octopus hatching in the wild, but luckily Virginia Aquarium managed to film it happening in captivity, and have share it online for everyone to enjoy.

In a remarkable 10-second video posted to Facebook and Twitter, a single tiny Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus briareus) is shown wriggling free of a small cluster of eggs.

Almost immediately its pigment changes from white to dark brown.

According to Virginia Aquarium, this is totally normal - all the baby octopuses they observed went through this rapid pigment change immediately after hatching.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/baby-caribbean-reef-octopus-hatching-video-virginia-aquarium

7 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

This Rare Video of a Tiny Baby Octopus Hatching Is Breaking The Internet (Original Post) Judi Lynn Feb 2018 OP

Here: longship Feb 2018 #1

Thanks for posting the clip. It's great being able to see that little character over and over, Judi Lynn Feb 2018 #5

Chromatophores! longship Feb 2018 #6

I beat you on this one--I posted it on Saturday: tblue37 Feb 2018 #2

Yikes. Didn't mean to dupe you! My excuse is Friday night I got flattened by a killer cold, Judi Lynn Feb 2018 #4

coolness! FirstLight Feb 2018 #3

"Rare"? Heck, folks at tonmo.com raise cephs as a hobby ! eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #7

longship

(40,416 posts)

1. Here:

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 12:59 AM

Feb 2018

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)

5. Thanks for posting the clip. It's great being able to see that little character over and over,

Reply to longship (Reply #1)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:59 AM

Feb 2018

as he enters a very large world all by himself.

It is fascinating that as soon as he is free, his own true markings appear instantly. He is officially a tiny octopus.

longship

(40,416 posts)

6. Chromatophores!

Reply to Judi Lynn (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 12:20 PM

Feb 2018

And octopuses can control them. Nice when one wants to hide.
chromatophore

Here's a great example:

tblue37

(65,408 posts)

2. I beat you on this one--I posted it on Saturday:

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 01:13 AM

Feb 2018

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10181043702

I am razzing you because you are the one who usually posts the best science, archaeology, anthropology, and nature videos. I have never posted one before you did.

Judi Lynn

(160,545 posts)

4. Yikes. Didn't mean to dupe you! My excuse is Friday night I got flattened by a killer cold,

Reply to tblue37 (Reply #2)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 11:55 AM

Feb 2018

and have been trying to hide in bed almost all the time since!

Just saw your link, really prefer the video from your source, the Washington Post.

Unbelievably cute tiny fella. Awwwwwww.

FirstLight

(13,360 posts)

3. coolness!

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 04:10 AM

Feb 2018

There's that part of me that says "I want one!" but they are too smart to be "pets"

eppur_se_muova

(36,269 posts)

7. "Rare"? Heck, folks at tonmo.com raise cephs as a hobby !

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Feb 15, 2018, 12:25 PM

Feb 2018

Reply to this discussion