An underwater biologist was able to capture footage of an uncommon blanket octopus swimming through the Great Barrier Reef.
Jacinta Schackleton, a snorkeler near Lady Elliot Island off Queensland’s coast, spotted the creature while she was swimming around.
Bundaberg Now: Shackleton said that the colors of her cape are amazing and was really fascinating to see how she moves through the water.
It was my first thought that the creature was juvenile fish, with its long fins. However, as it approached me I discovered it was a blanket Octopus.
“Surely this was a once in a lifetime encounter for me. So grateful!”
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An underwater biologist captured footage of an uncommon blanket octopus swimming through the Great Barrier Reef. It was the “once in a life time” encounter that a marine biologist had.
Shackleton was not able to see the female blanket octopus, but he did notice that it had been seen. Females can reach six feet in length.
Experts believe that males are about half the size of walnuts. This is due to the fact that they die shortly after mating.
Shackleton shared that blanket octopus is most often found floating in open water, and it is therefore rare to see one up close.
This marine creature was discovered for the first time in 1963. The name derives from the sheets of webbing found between one of its arms.
Jacinta Schackleton, a snorkeler near Lady Elliot Island off Queensland’s coast, spotted the rainbow-hued creature while she was exploring the reef.
It will also spread its arms to make a silhouette that resembles a blanket in the hope of scaring off predators.
Shackleton describes the encounter as a once in a lifetime opportunity—only a handful of people have ever seen one in the wild.
It took her some time to realize that she was actually seeing the famous blanket octopus.
Shackleton began taking pictures of the colorful Octopus and filming the encounter. She notes that it was challenging because of her excitement.
One giant octopus found sliding down the beaches of Wategos Beach, Australia in April 2021 was incredibly shocking.
Jarrah, a Sydney resident, captured the creature’s tentacles about one-foot long and making its way toward nearby rocks.
Brailey said that it was “so crazy” and that she couldn’t believe what she saw.
Shackleton describes the encounter as a once in a lifetime opportunity—only a handful of people have ever seen one in the wild. It took her some time to realize that she was actually seeing the famous blanket octopus.
A giant octopus, which was about one-foot long, was found sliding along the beaches of Wategos beach in Australia. Jarrah Brailey, a Sydney resident, filmed the creature with its tentacles approximately one foot long as it made its way to nearby rocks.
According to her, it changed color depending on whether it was under water or in the sand.
It is possible for Octopuses to disguise their colors to defend themselves against predators. However, few people are allowed to view it in person.
These creatures prefer to be in deep waters and rarely venture out on the beaches.
She said, “It’s super cool!” She said,
“But it wasn’t common to see one up close until I started receiving messages from people from New Zealand and the UK.
He was thinking of her as if it were ‘another’ day in Australia.