Blue Planet III: Moment octopus escapes death after hunt gone wrong

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1. 1

   Blue Planet III: Moment octopus escapes death after hunt gone wrong

   BBC NewsPublished Oct 23, 2026Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “Filmmakers have captured an octopus's lucky escape after venturing from her normal underwater habitat. The sequence is part of the latest Blue Planet series from Sir David Attenborough, who has continued to produce nature documentaries into his 101st year. In the third instalment, viewers are taken around the world - from icy polar waters to the tropics, and out into the open oceans. For UK audience, Blue Planet III starts on Sunday 1st November, 8pm, BBC One and iPlayer. For those outside the UK, Blue Planet III will launch from November into 2027 across the world.”

2. 2

   A “Mimic Octopus” in the Atlantic: Flatfish Mimicry and Camouflage by Macrotritopus defilippi

   Biological Bulletin (Hanlon et al.)Published Feb 1, 2010Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “The sand-dwelling octopus Macrotritopus defilippi was filmed or photographed in five Caribbean locations mimicking the swimming behavior (posture, style, speed, duration) and coloration of the common, sand-dwelling flounder Bothus lunatus. Each species was exceptionally well camouflaged when stationary, and details of camouflaging techniques are described for M. defilippi. Octopuses implemented flounder mimicry only during swimming, when their movement would give away camouflage in this open sandy habitat. Thus, both camouflage and fish mimicry were used by the octopuses as a primary defense against visual predators. This is the first documentation of flounder mimicry by an Atlantic octopus, and only the fourth convincing case of mimicry for cephalopods, a taxon renowned for its polyphenism that is implemented mainly by neurally controlled skin patterning, but also-as shown here-by their soft flexible bodies.”

3. 3

   Dynamic mimicry in an Indo–Malayan octopus

   Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (Norman et al.)Published Sep 7, 2001Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “During research dives in Indonesia (Sulawesi and Bali), we filmed a distinctive long-armed octopus, which is new to science. Diving over 24 h periods revealed that the 'mimic octopus' emerges during daylight hours to forage on sand substrates in full view of pelagic fish predators. We observed nine individuals of this species displaying a repertoire of postures and body patterns, several of which are clearly impersonations of venomous animals co-occurring in this habitat. This 'dynamic mimicry' avoids the genetic constraints that may limit the diversity of genetically polymorphic mimics but has the same effect of decreasing the frequency with which predators encounter particular mimics. Additionally, our observations suggest that the octopus makes decisions about the most appropriate form of mimicry to use, allowing it to enhance further the benefits of mimicking toxic models by employing mimicry according to the nature of perceived threats.”

4. 4

   Bivalve Shell Utilization by Juvenile Octopus vulgaris in Sandy Substrates.

   Ecology and evolution (Hernández-Urcera et al.)Published May 15, 2025Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “The early life stages of Octopus vulgaris face significant challenges in sandy environments, where shelter is limited and predation risk is high. This study examines how juvenile octopuses adapt to these conditions, focusing on their use of empty bivalve shells as shelters. Between May 2022 and June 2023, through four SCUBA diving expeditions in the Cíes Islands, NW Spain, nine juvenile octopuses were found inhabiting bivalve shells. The juveniles preferentially selected shells that fit their body size, providing protection and minimizing exposure. They manipulated the shells for security and positioned themselves strategically for optimal visual surveillance. Additionally, they used camouflage techniques, blending with the sandy substrate. When threatened, some octopuses displayed bipedal locomotion to enhance their escape. This study highlights the adaptive flexibility of juvenile O. vulgaris in response to predation pressures in sandy habitats, adding to the growing but limited knowledge of habitat-specific behaviors that can help contribute to the conservation strategies of wild populations.”

5. 5

   The best defense is a good offense: Anti‐predator behavior of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) against conger eel attacks

   Ecology and Evolution (Salvador et al.)Published Mar 1, 2024Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “) attacks based on three video sequences recorded by recreational SCUBA divers in the eastern Atlantic off the coast of Galicia (NW Spain) and in the Cantabrian Sea (NW Spain). These records document common traits in defensive behavior: (1) the octopuses enveloped the conger eel's head to obscure its view; (2) they covered the eel's gills in an attempt to suffocate it; (3) they released ink; (4) the octopuses lost some appendages because of the fight. In the third video, the octopus did not exhibit the defensive behavior described in the first two videos due to an inability to utilize its arms in defense, and the conger eel's success in capturing octopuses is discussed. Additionally, both the cost that the octopus could face by losing some arms during the fight and whether the experience it acquires can be an advantage for future encounters are analyzed. The defensive behavior exhibited by octopuses in this study highlights their ability to survive in a hostile environment and serves as an example of the extensive repertoire of anti-predator strategies employed by these cephalopods.”

6. 6

   Seahorse Predation by Octopuses in the Caribbean and the West Pacific

   Diversity (Muller et al.)Published Feb 10, 2022Checked Oct 23, 2026

   “There is much documentation about seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) being threatened by habitat degradation and overfishing, but relatively few published studies mention their natural predators. The present study documents three cases in which seahorses are being caught by octopuses. In one case, the seahorse was partly consumed. These observations made at Bonaire (Caribbean Netherlands) and New South Wales (Australia) suggest that predation on seahorses by octopuses may be more widespread and common than previously thought.”