- published: 01 Jun 2015
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A cephalopod (pronounced /ˈsɛfələˌpɒd/) is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda (Greek plural κεφαλόποδα, kephalópoda; "head-feet"). These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles (muscular hydrostats) modified from the primitive molluscan foot. Fishermen sometimes call them inkfish, referring to their common ability to squirt ink. The study of cephalopods is a branch of malacology known as teuthology.
Cephalopods became dominant during the Ordovician period, represented by primitive nautiloids. The class now contains two, only distantly related, extant subclasses: Coleoidea, which includes octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish; and Nautiloidea, represented by Nautilus and Allonautilus. In the Coleoidea, the molluscan shell has been internalized or is absent, whereas in the Nautiloidea, the external shell remains. About 800 living species of cephalopods have been identified. Two important extinct taxa are the Ammonoidea (ammonites) and Belemnoidea (belemnites).
Learn how and why octopus, squid, and cuttlefish change colors. - - - The California Academy of Sciences is the only place in the world with an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum, and four-story rainforest all under one roof. Visit us online to learn more and to get tickets: http://www.calacademy.org. Connect with us! • Like us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/CASonFB • Follow us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/CASonTwitter • Add us on Google+: http://bit.ly/CASonGoogle
Student documentary about cephalopods for Marine Biology course at California State University East Bay.
When marine biologist Roger Hanlon captured the first scene in this video he started screaming. Hanlon, senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, studies camouflage in cephalopods--squid, cuttlefish and octopus. They are masters of optical illusion. These are some of Hanlon's top video picks of sea creatures going in and out of hiding. music by DjCode, Best of Breitband, footage courtesy of roger hanlon, produced by flora lichtman
Cephalopods are charismatic (and photogenic) mollusks that are found throughout the world’s oceans and estuaries. In this Science Café, Dr. Liz Shea will discuss the occurrence and distribution of cephalopods in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. She will highlight squids and octopods that live in and around the seamounts and canyons that occur along the U.S. continental slope and will discuss methods for collecting images and voucher specimens for natural history museum collections. Please join us after Dr. Shea’s Science Café for a special screening of “Pathways to the Abyss” in the SECU Daily Planet Theater. This 18-minute piece captures the efforts to understand deep-water canyon ecosystems during a mission led by a North Carolina researcher. Several members of the collaborative research te...
You think chameleons are good at camouflage? They ain't got nothing on our underwater friends. From Nova.
Squid and cuttlefishes use mesmerizing color changes to lure or confuse prey then snatch their snack using their two long tentacles. Octopuses catch their prey by surprise, using camouflage, jet propulsion and the sure grip that comes with having eight arms. These cool creatures are part of our new Tentacles exhibit. Learn more: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/tentacles
The anatomy of the layered skin of cephalopods has evolved to provide camouflage and communication to a degree not found in land animals.
In celebration of Cephalopod week 2016, we’ve put together a compilation of some of our favorite observations of these wonderful “head-footed” animals from the deep. Dumbo octopus (Grimpoteuthis) Pacific bigeye octopus (Octopus californicus) Japetella octopus (Japetella) Humboldt squid (Doscidicus gigas) Black-eyed squid carrying an eggsac (Gonatus) North Pacific giant octopus (Enteroctopus dolfeini) Cirrate octopus (Cirrata) Pacific red octopus (Octopus rubescens) Video producer: Linda Kuhnz Production support: Lonny Lundsten, Kyra Schlining Music: Fallout by Konstantinos Panagiotidis
Some cephalopods lumber along the seafloor, crawling or walking. Others use jet propulsion, filling their muscular bodies with water, then squirting it from tubular siphons. These cool creatures are part of our new Tentacles exhibit. Learn more: http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/tentacles