Batari Octopus
Basic Information
Anatomy
The Batari Octopus is a medium sized cephalopod in the octopus group. They have eight arms, a razor sharp beak, and a slight hood over their tentacles. Like other cephalopods, they are capable of changing colors to better camouflage in their environment. Unlike most other cephalopods, the octopus possesses an external shell. DNA analysis has revealed they are not closely related to the nautilus, but are an example of convergent evolution. Their tentacles have sharp barbs at their tips, thought to mainly assist in catching prey.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The species primarily feeds on crabs, lobsters, sea worms, and invertebrates such as deep sea isopods. They feed primarily by lying in wait under the sand and substrate of the ocean floor, waving their brightly tipped tentacles in the water, likely mimicking corals, sea worms, or eels for prey to approach. Using their shell and water stored in the mantle, they will shoot out of the soil, enwrapping their prey in their tentacles before delivering a swift bite through their exoskeletons. After killing their prey, the octopus will fully encase its prey in its tentacles, and bury itself to eat undisturbed by scavengers.
Behaviour
Against many predators, the Batari will often mimic clams and sea snails, which are often more trouble than they're worth to most fishes. When seen or being investigated by a potential predator, they will retreat as much as they can within their shells. If fish continue to pester them as a potential meal, they will often begin to mimic extremely venomous sea snails to be left alone, and may occasionally jab out at potential predators, falsely threatening a venomous sting. When all else fails, they will spray ink and flee the area, burying themselves while their predators are confused and blinded.
Their behavior around their main predator, the Pitted Whale, is quite different. Pitted whales are quite intelligent, and do not often fall for the octopus' ruse. Instead, the octopus will spray much larger quantities of ink over a much greater area. Rather than flee, as the octopus cannot outrun the whales, they display an amazing adaptation- they will cling to the whales, often using their beak and barbed tentacles, often clinging to the whale's backs and heads where they cannot be eaten until the whales have found other meals. Once their predator is satiated, they will detach, once again resuming normal behavior.
Origin/Ancestry
Natural
Geographic Distribution
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