• Here you'll find some great articles contributed by TONMO members and staff over the years. Also, see the Members' Publications forum.

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Nancy
6 min read
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239,126
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6
Things to Think About Before You Get An Octopus as a Pet by Nancy King Nancy is a member of the TONMO.com staff -- you can discuss cephalopods with her and fellow TONMOers in our Octopus Care forum. Keeping an octopus is fun and interesting, but an octopus is not the easiest pet to own. You...
Original publish date
Mar 1, 2004
Colin
8 min read
Views
66,588
by Colin Dunlop Opening notes... Since this article was originally written it has been necessary to rewrite parts of it. There have been significant advances within the hobby and cephalopod husbandry techniques are still evolving. It is certain to require more updates in the future but that's...
Original publish date
Mar 4, 2004
  • Featured
Nancy
3 min read
Views
61,289
Comments
1
By Nancy King, 2003 What Is Octopus Ink? Inking Octopus by Steve O'Shea The ink of the octopus, or any cephalopod, is composed of highly concentrated melanin. This is the same dark pigment that we humans have, and which is responsible for skin color and the color of dark hair. It is a natural...
Original publish date
Jun 1, 2003
Colin
3 min read
Views
56,617
By Colin Dunlop - 2003 Discuss this article in our forums: Cuttlefish Care When is a fish not a fish? Em... okay, er... em... It's not a funny joke, actually it's just a fact... cuttlefish are not fish! Cuttlefish are much more closely related to garden slugs and snails than they are to fish...
Original publish date
Jun 18, 2003
Colin
4 min read
Views
56,048
Reaction score
2
By Colin Dunlop National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call 1-800-273-8255 Available 24 hours every day There are some references to octopuses and other animals "committing suicide." This is a subjective way of looking at certain types of animal death, such as saying that whales found beached on...
Original publish date
Mar 8, 2003
  • Featured
Steve O'Shea
13 min read
Views
45,414
An analysis of the size of the largest cephalopods: Architeuthis and Mesonychoteuthis Authored by Dr. Steve O'Shea and Dr. Kat Bolstad Steve and Kat are members of the TONMO staff. You can communicate with them both in our Cephalopod Science forums. INTRODUCTION TO FACT SHEETS To ensure...
Contributing Authors
Dr. Steve O'Shea, Dr. Kat Bolstad
Original publish date
Apr 6, 2008
Nancy
3 min read
5.00 star(s) 1 ratings
Views
33,495
Reaction score
1
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4
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1
By Nancy King "Ollie", about 9 months old -- Photo by Nancy King Description O. bimaculoidesis a medium sized octopus, reaching a mantle size of 7 inches (17.5cm) and arms to 23 inches (58cm). Some remain smaller than this. The bimac is not usually heavily textured and has several common...
Original publish date
Mar 1, 2003
Colin
9 min read
Views
28,560
By Colin Dunlop November 2003 (also appears in the February/March 2004, Issue - 16 of Marine World Magazine) ”The most commonly seen cephalopods for sale in the UK are octopuses, cuttlefish and nautiluses. Their husbandry is not too far removed from caring for any other marine species but...
Original publish date
Nov 1, 2003
Phil
22 min read
Views
26,740
Comments
1
Introduction Imagine yourself standing on a bleak windswept Ordovician shore. It is 470 million years ago and you are standing on a rocky coastline staring out to sea. As you turn and pan the landscape behind you, all you can see are barren rocks, with no trees, plants or any form of animal...
Original publish date
Jul 15, 2004
Phil
14 min read
Views
21,240
Note: Phil Eyden welcomes discussion on this article in the Cephalopod Fossils forum. Introduction Architeuthis and Mesonychoteuthis, the giant and colossal squid, are enigmatic and awe inspiring animals. Very little is known about the lifestyle of these spectacular animals, despite the...
Original publish date
May 18, 2004
  • Featured
Architeuthoceras
8 min read
Views
18,062
Reaction score
1
Covering Terminology used in the Description of Externally Shelled Cephalopods (Nautiloids and Ammonoids) By Kevin Bylund Note: Kevin welcomes discussion on this article in the Cephalopod Fossils forum. The structure secreted by the mantle of cephalopods for protection or neutral buoyancy is...
Original publish date
Jan 1, 2005
Nancy
3 min read
Views
17,053
Comments
1
By Nancy King Nancy is a member of the TONMO.com staff -- you can discuss octopuses and more with her in our Cephalopod Care forums. What is an octopus? It's a sea creature found in all oceans of the world, even in the cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctica. It lives in deep or shallow...
Original publish date
May 17, 2003
Phil
16 min read
Views
16,175
Comments
4
Note: Phil welcomes discussion on this article in the Cephalopod Fossils forum. Fossil Octopuses Fossils of octopuses are by far the most enigmatic and mysterious of all the ancient groups of cephalopods. Due to their delicate structure fossils of these animals are exceptionally rare, as the...
Original publish date
Nov 19, 2004
Phil
11 min read
Views
15,531
Comments
1
Note: Phil welcomes discussion on this article in the Cephalopod Fossils forum. Introduction Belemnites are probably the most well known extinct cephalopod after the ammonites. They are quite common fossils and have a worldwide distribution. They are a very characteristic and easily...
Original publish date
Sep 14, 2003
Tintenfisch
13 min read
Views
11,938
Comments
2
What lurks beneath...? By Kat Bolstad Note: Kat (Tintenfisch) welcomes discussion in the Physiology & Biology forum of the TONMO.com Message Board. INTRODUCTION The deep sea is the largest, yet least-explored habitat on Earth. Its seemingly adverse conditions include crushing pressure, total...
Original publish date
May 6, 2003
  • Featured
Neogonodactylus
3 min read
Views
11,360
Just in time for Valentine's Day 2012, Dr. Roy Caldwell shared some astonishing photos of two mating A. aculeatus. Note that these images are very rare and the quality is high. Photos may not be reused without permission Sea of Love An Abdopus aculeatus male perches on a rock keeping an eye...
Contributing Authors
Dr. Roy Caldwell, Tony Morelli
Original publish date
Feb 14, 2012
Steve O'Shea
7 min read
5.00 star(s) 1 ratings
Views
10,507
Comments
1
Reviews
1
Architeuthis (Giant Squid) reproduction, with notes on basic anatomy and behavior By Dr. Steve O'Shea Last updated: 03/28/03 Note: Steve welcomes discussion in the Physiology & Biology forum. Architeuthis (Fig. 1, left) is basically an eating and breeding machine. A look inside the cut-open...
Original publish date
Mar 28, 2003
Thales
27 min read
Views
9,559
By Richard Ross (Thales), 2005 Image 1: Adult Sepia bandensis 'begging' for food. Head/body length about 4 inches. Photo, Richard Ross Originally published in AdavancedAquarist.com, republished here with permission from the author. Why Cuttlesfish? I may be biased. Ok, I am completely...
Original publish date
Jul 15, 2005
Phil
8 min read
Views
9,224
By Phil Eyden Note: Phil welcomes discussion on this article in the Cephalopod Fossils forum. Ammonites are extinct cephalopods and are among the most abundant and beautiful of all fossils. Although not as glamorous as Tyrannosaurus rex or as dramatic as Velociraptor, these extinct creatures...
Original publish date
Apr 29, 2003
Colin
10 min read
Views
9,196
Reaction score
1
by Colin Dunlop Overview One of the most common emails that I receive starts along the lines of, "I have seen an octopus for sale in a pet shop. What do I need to keep it properly?" Here is a list of some information and equipment needed for an octopus aquarium with links to sites where the...
Original publish date
Sep 2, 2002

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