After a moray eel attack (the octopus footage starts about 5 minutes into the video):

I wonder how that octopus coped afterwards. It seems to be swimming just fine, but it’s likely that, even if it could still function, it would get an infection or fall prey to another predator it was no longer strong enough to get away from. Thanks to Glenn Patton for that great video!

Next on this week’s cephalopod video revue, Let’s take a look at some cuttlefish. I never get tired of watching these guys change color.

Both of the users who posted these videos (ScandanavianDiveTeam and Tmukouhara) have a bunch of other dive videos, so click through and check them out.

Finally, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago just posted a neat video starring one member of the cephalopod family that never gets enough attention: the nautilus.

An article came out this week in the US News and World Report covering research being done on Humboldt Squid populations off of the Pacific coast of the US (including some quotes by newly-named MacArthur fellow and oceanographer Kelly Benoit-Bird.) They mostly avoided the “vicious man-eater” stereotyping of the squid that I so deplore, but managed to squeeze in a toned-down version of it that I found quite funny:

Mexican fishermen call them diablos rojos, or “red devils,’’ because they are extremely aggressive. “I don’t think I would choose to get in the water with them when they are actively feeding,’’ Benoit-Bird said, noting, however, that they lose their propulsion when captured. Even so, “you don’t want to stick your fingers in their mouths,’’ she added.

Pretty much any animal is dangerous when you stick your fingers in its mouth. I have 2 pet rabbits – cute little fluffy bunnies – and I wouldn’t recommend sticking your fingers in their mouths, especially while they are eating. Somehow, this testimony doesn’t quite convince me.

Another recent news story on the Humboldt (from The Globe and Mail): after “invading” northern waters, it has apparently left almost as quickly as it came.

Finally, I’m still looking for submissions for Encephalon , the psychology/neuroscience blog carnival. Drop me a line on twitter ( @Cephalover ) or via email ( mike.lisieski (at) gmail (dot) com ) to submit a post!

Thanks for reading!