Everywhere I look, there are news stories about octopi.  We had a lot of calls and comments about our recent video post titled Shark vs Octopus.  It seems that everyone is intrigued at the exploits and capabilities of these beautiful, but misunderstood sea creatures.  Demonstrating strength and dexterity far beyond what seems possible, the octopus clearly is a one-of-a-kind animal.  Not long after I made this post, another news story surfaced about an octopus at the Santa Monica Pier  Aquarium.  It seems this little fellow manipulated a valve in an aquarium tank and caused an overnight flood.  Now, another octopus in the news.

Truman, the eight-legged, thirty pound attraction at the New England Aquarium in Boston surprised officials and visitors when he reacted quite unexpectedly to a task laid before him by caretakers.  It seems that aquarium employees like to combine feeding with “enrichment activities” to challenge the more intelligent animals.  In this situation, they placed a snack of tasty crabs inside a latched clear acrylic box.  Of course, they expected Truman to manipulate the latch and retrieve the snack.  Instead, Truman slightly dislodged the hinged top and proceeded to pack himself tightly into the box.  In fact, he got his entire 30 pound body into the acrylic case that was no larger than a milk crate.  After spending about 30 minutes in the box, he smoothly slid outside.  Staff and visitors who observed the feat were thrilled.  Based on the news, octopi are fully capable of surprise.

Phil Ellis

Discount Scuba Gear at DiveSport.com

The oceans of the world are inhabited by a diverse variety of plants and animals.  Of course, the corals are among the most beautiful and provide a stunning landscape for divers and explorers.  Science Daily has just announced the identification of up to six new species of deep-water corals in the waters off of Hawaii.  The deep-water expedition in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument preserve was originally chartered to conduct a general study of this unique deep reserve.  During the course of numerous deep dives with remote-controlled submersibles, scientists collected a number of samples of “unusual” looking corals for further study.  Scientists who evaluated these samples were able to identify at least six new species of bamboo corals that may represent a complete new genera of corals.  Pictured above, one new species of  orange bamboo coral measures four to five feet tall and was collected more than 5,700 feet below the surface.   Bamboo corals have growth rings much like those found on trees.  This allows scientists to “date”  small chemical changes over time and make important conclusions about the condition of the water at various times in the life of the coral.  According to Richard Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA’s assistant administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the discovery of these corals may provide important data about ocean acidification, a process where changes in ocean chemistry occur as a result of an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide.

Scientists will continue to evaluate a vast variety of samples collected during the 2007 expedition in hopes of identifying even more new species.  The study of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is unique because it is the deepest protected area in the United States and contains corals that have existed for thousands of years.

Phil Ellis

Discount Scuba Gear @ DiveSports.com