Yesterday I watched a quite interesting documentary (from 2012) about small and in general mainly unnoticed marine animals from the coastal areas off Sulawesi. In this documentary was a quite bizarre tiny octopus shown, with bizarre hair-like and branched skin appendages all around its body. It was nearly undistinguishable from a piece of algae. It was said this species was still undescribed. I have never seen something comparable. Of course I know that many octopi can shape their skin into strange wrinkles, but in this case, the appendiges are obviously of a permanent nature. You can see this particular octopus at aroun 9:00 min:
I looked for more information about this totally bizarre species, but I only found some more photos, like this one:
http://pichaus.com/sea-animal-octopus-@31548d466f3cb7589a1baa3e7913b658/
I noticed that some of those "hairy" octopi differ significiantly in shape and number of their appendages, which can´t be explained by simple "shape-shifting", so I could well imagine there is actually more than one single species. This one for example has much lesser but also much thicker skin appendiges:
http://nadlembehresort.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/mg_5414.jpg?w=595
I only wanted to know if there is more information about them available, and if they are already researched.
I looked for more information about this totally bizarre species, but I only found some more photos, like this one:
http://pichaus.com/sea-animal-octopus-@31548d466f3cb7589a1baa3e7913b658/
I noticed that some of those "hairy" octopi differ significiantly in shape and number of their appendages, which can´t be explained by simple "shape-shifting", so I could well imagine there is actually more than one single species. This one for example has much lesser but also much thicker skin appendiges:
http://nadlembehresort.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/mg_5414.jpg?w=595
I only wanted to know if there is more information about them available, and if they are already researched.