Shark vs Octopus

[Drooling Iguana]

I found this video in another forum, and was inspired by the Mantis vs Hummingbord thread to post it here.

What happens when you put an octopus in a shark tank?

[bilateralrope]

IS there any way for me to view it without having to install realplayer ?

[Drooling Iguana]

You could try Real Alternative.

[Quadlok]

They were just dogfish. Those things barely qualify as sharks.

[WyrdNyrd]

They were just dogfish. Those things barely qualify as sharks.

Nevertheless, I was fascinated by a documentary that mentioned this behaviour, as well as pointing out that octopi are far smarter than previously imagined, and are, in general, even more interesting than is normally imagined, and that's just the little ones, nevermind the speculative Verne-esque monsters!

[Oni Koneko Damien]

Without seeing the video, my immediate assumption would be that the sharks complete own the octopi. As smart as they are, octopi are the preferred food of morey eels, now, try placing them against something that's bigger, faster, more impervious to pain, and infinitely more vicious.

[Elheru Aran]

Without seeing the video, my immediate assumption would be that the sharks complete own the octopi. As smart as they are, octopi are the preferred food of morey eels, now, try placing them against something that's bigger, faster, more impervious to pain, and infinitely more vicious.

Actually, er, nope. Though I will note that it was a pretty small shark (a dogfish, actually) and a fairly large octopus. And the video *did* cut out halfway through...

[squidman001]

thats an awesome video! even though it was a ghetto shark, notch one up for cephalapods!

[Darth Fanboy]

Y'know there are species of seals that snack on spiny dogfish (one of the oceans smaller sharks), and we don't go around thinking that Seals can take on a big shark eh? There's a reason Octopus have the best methods for camoflauge in the whole ocean, because theres a lot of things bigger than it that will snack on them given the chance.

If you want to read about some interesting combat you could always look up the only recorded encounter between an Orca and a Great White.

Interesting Fact: There are less than 50 species of Shark that grow over six feet (almost 2 meters for you kooky foreigners) and a majority of shark species won't get larger than three feet.

Second Interesting Fact: Octopus hate astroturf, making it the best method of preventing escapes.

[spikenigma]

wow!

that was unexpected. Is there any commentary around it? - eg. did the Octopus somehow 'know' that holding the shark still would drown it?

[Pick]

Octopuses are fucking awesome. I'm not surprised it was capable of doing something completely badass, it's customary for octopuses to be ultimate cool; when I stayed at the Vancouver aquarium, I learned about one that found a way into adjacent tanks through the pipes before they put a screen over it . Love those little things.

PS- If you ever come to the Hatfield center in Oregon you can pet one They're so cute!

[Quadlok]

wow!

that was unexpected. Is there any commentary around it? - eg. did the Octopus somehow 'know' that holding the shark still would drown it?

I'm betting that the beak strong and large enough to tea your arm off might have had a part in it too.

[squidman001]

dont all squids and octopus have venom they can inject as well? (yes as far as i know thats correct grammar... squid is like the word deer, both singular and plural, but "squids" mean more than one species of squid, and bassically the same for octopus, just substitute octopi... if im wrong, please correct me, i really enjoy stuff about cephalopods! ) (pps: hence the name!)

[Danny Bhoy]

IIRC, the blue-ring octopus found in Australian waters is the only venomous species of octopus. I don't recall a species of venomous squid.

[Dark Hellion]

Well, since no one else has said it yet. Tentacle Rape!!
But anyway, octopuses (octopi/octopussy?) are really intellegent, and have been known to figure out complex problems given to them (well, complex for an organism without a spine).

[squidman001]

well its been a while...
but i think it may be that the blue ringer down under is the only one that is really dangerous to get bitten by...
perhaps the other ones are only mildly paralyzing? ill check it out if i get some time...

[wolveraptor]

Yes, many octopi and squid have poisonous bites.

[Crown]

If you want to read about some interesting combat you could always look up the only recorded encounter between an Orca and a Great White.

Quick Time Movie Link and the source.

And just for fun someone who just flat out got it WRONG!

Fear my Google-fu!

[FTeik]

Well, according to that article the Orca (20 foot) was twice the size of the shark (10 foot).

[Darth Fanboy]

For the record all Cephalopods except for the Chambered Nautilus have neurotoxins, it's all a matter of how potent. Blue Ringed Octopus are quite famous as are Humboldt SQUID, which have been known to kill Scuba Divers.

[ryan8723]

Orcas are also pack animals and can take down Sperm whales. In the ocean, orcas are truly at the top of the food chain (well if you don't count humans who fish).