Class Cephalopoda and the Mimic Octopus

Class Cephalopoda and the Mimic Octopus - first outline

This topic submitted by Tim Oliverio ( olivertp@muohio.edu) at 10:34 PM on 3/29/04.

Hurricane Erika, despite strong westerlies just to her west, gets her act together. Note the dense central overcast and the well developed, compact eye.View an MPG Movie of her intensification!

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

While flipping through the television channels one afternoon I can across a show on, The Animal Planet. I found myself watching in amazement as I observed this specific octopus. I came to find out that it was a mimic octopus, from the class Cephalopoda. This octopus was such a new discovery that it still to this day does not even have a scientific name. It has some very interesting characteristics and talents. Ever since that show I wanted to study and learn more about the mimic octopus and the class Cephalopoda.

A. Introduction
a. Summery of information that is going to be presented
B. Class Cephalopoda (specifically talk about octopuses)
a. Feeding
b. Digestion
c. Anatomy
d. Reproduction
C. Mimic Octopus
a. When it was found
b. Why it took so long to find it
c. How and where it was found
d. Description of the mimic octopus
e. What animals it can mimic
f. Ideas on how it can mimic other animals
g. Reason for mimicking other animals
h. How do they learn to mimic
D. Other animalÕs defense mechanisms
a. Brief description of various animals defense mechanisms
i. Coloration change
ii. Body form change
iii. Secretion of chemical
b. Purposes for mimicking, or camouflage other animals/plants
i. To stay safe
ii. To hunt for food
E. Closing
a. Importance of preserving environments for animals such as this one
b. There are so many more discoveries to be made
c. If we donÕt take care of our oceans and coral reefs, etc. we have no way of telling what could be discovered

Sources:
1)Davidson, Osha Gray. The Enchanted Braid: Coming to Terms with Nature on the Coral Reef
This will help to describe why we need to take care of coral reefs

2)Miller, Harley. Zoology 5th edition
This will help when describing class Cephalopoda and the octopus.

3)Norman, Mark. Masters of Mimicry. Nature Australia, Spring 2002, Vol 27 Issue 6
This source will help me to accurately describe the mimic octopus.

4)Croke, Vicki. Mock-to-pus. Popular Science, Jan 2002
This source will help me to talk about some of the various animals that it can mimic.

5)Roach, John. Newfound Octopus Impersonates Fish, Snakes. National Geographic.
This source will help me to explain how it was found and it will aid me in describing more animals that it can mimic.

6)Norman, Finn, Tregenza. Dynamic Mimicry in an Indo-Malayan Octopus. The Royal Society 2001.
This resource is from scientists that are divers and they describe in depth the mimic octopus. This helps to provide first hand knowledge on the mimic octopus.

7)Young, Emma. Magnificent Mimic Reveals Multiple Impressions. New Scientist.com
This source will help me talk about if the mimic octopus intends to look like a poisonous animal.

Next Article
Previous Article
Return to Topic Menu