Class Cephalopoda and the Mimic Octopus

Class Cephalopoda and the Mimic Octopus - second draft

This topic submitted by Tim Oliverio ( olivertp@muohio.edu) at 2:36 PM on 4/30/04.

After 10 years of trying, Hays finally spots a "Red Eyed Tree Frog" in Costa Rica

Tropical Field Courses -Interdisciplinary Studies-Miami University

A. Introduction
a. Summery of information that is going to be presented

B. Class Cephalopoda (specifically talk about octopuses)
a. Feeding- patterns and diet
b. Digestion
c. Anatomy
d. How they move in the water
e. 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. Physical 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 animal's 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 don't 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.

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