The octopus with a wardrobe of disguises

On sandy seabeds in the Indo-Pacific, this striped octopus can change both how it looks and how it moves. Its arms and body become part of the performance. On sandy seabeds in the Indo-Pacific, this octopus can change the way it looks and moves. Researchers have described displays resembling flatfish, lionfish and even sea snakes—using its striped arms and body as the disguise. The clever part is flexibility. Instead of relying on one camouflage colour, an octopus can adjust its shape and behaviour in a landscape with relatively few places to hide. Watch a good, credited underwater video and it becomes hard to believe how expressive eight arms can be.