Only discovered in 1998, the Mimic Octopus is an incredible animal which is capable of imitating others as a method of survival. While its normal coloration consists of a simple pattern of brown and white stripes or spots, it is often seen playing a dramatic role as another creature – one reason it may have taken so long for people to discover it!
Mimic Octopus: The Basics
The Mimic Octopus grows to be just two feet long – modestly sized, as octopus go. Often confused with the Wonderpus, another recently discovered species, it is capable of making the same changes other species are capable of; that is, changing its color and texture to blend in with its natural surroundings. It is, however, the first species ever found to imitate other animals.
Found only in southeast Asia, and first discovered off the coast of Sulawesi, it has been known to mimic the physical likeness as well as the movements of nearly twenty other species, including brittle stars, giant crabs and sea shells, sea snakes, lionfish, jellyfish, anemones, and even mantis shrimp. It accomplishes this feat by changing both its color and contorting its body into a variety of different shapes.
Incredibly intelligent, the mimic octopus seems to base its decision on which animal to impersonate depending on which predators happen to be a threat at the moment. In one case, damselfish were harassing a mimic octopus, which in turn buried all but two of its arms, then developed black and yellow bands to imitate a sea snake. In addition, it has been seen mimicking a sea anemone by raising all of its arms over its head, bending each in a zig-zag shape to deter all kinds of fish.
Mimic octopuses also deceive their prey. For instance, they can make themselves look like crabs, imitate mating behavior, then pounce on their unsuspecting suitors once they come close enough. Not only do they prey on smaller creatures by putting on a show, they also tunnel and burrow beneath the sand, often hiding with only their eyes and a small portion of their heads protruding from the seabed.
Amazingly, mimic octopuses have a short lifespan of only about nine months; like many other octopus species, their lives come to an end shortly after reproduction, with males living only a short time after breeding, and females carrying strings of eggs with her until they hatch, and dying shortly after the larvae emerge.
While there is still much to learn about the Mimic octopus, there are some places where divers can encounter them with regularity. They tend to prefer sites with volcanic sand seabeds and depths not exceeding about fifteen meters. They are often seen in Indonesia, at sites in Alor and the Lembeh Strait, Bali, and Rajah Ampat; in addition, they are commonly encountered in Malaysia, particularly at Lankayan, where they tend to inhabit reef environments. Unlike many other species which are usually encountered on night dives, these octopuses are bold enough to spend their time out in the open during the day. Move slowly, keep your eyes open, and focus on the possibilities – a mimic octopus encounter is one memory you’re sure to enjoy!