# Todays "Holy Shit, Nature is Stranger than Fiction" Entry **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 14, 2011, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725 "2011-08-14T22:33:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/41 "2011-08-16T23:45:02Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > …Cephalopods are color-blind, making it a real head-scratcher. > … People are starting to question this blanket assertion, at least for certain types of octopuses. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/42 "2011-08-17T00:07:32Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > People are starting to question this blanket assertion, at least for certain types of octopuses. I think we should start questioning lots of things about them. I don’t want to get caught off guard. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/43 "2011-08-17T05:44:23Z")
Honest to god, if had started a thread with any of these videos and attributed them to a new sci-fi movie, I would have found it to be a lot more believable. That mimic octopus was the most photoshopped-looking real thing I think I’ve ever seen (and I’ve read all the Cracked articles). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/44 "2011-08-17T12:55:45Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Sniff. I love cephalopods! Naughty lust. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/45 "2011-08-17T15:10:02Z")
> [@Palo\_Verde](#): > > Sniff. I love cephalopods! In Soviet Russia, cephalopod love you! No…wait…that’s Japan. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/46 "2011-08-17T16:57:26Z")
I’m guessing this isn’t the thread to share my love of calamari rings in batter? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/47 "2011-08-17T17:40:15Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > I’m guessing this isn’t the thread to share my love of calamari rings in batter? You only _think_ they’re calamari rings because they’re such clever mimics. They are actually Sphincter de Frogfish. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/48 "2011-08-17T17:54:02Z")
Refresh my memory… are those fast or slow twitch muscles? ---
**Author:** ![Kiber](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiber/32/317_2.png) [@Kiber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiber)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2011, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/49 "2011-08-17T17:59:58Z")
[Scene: A New York apartment. Someone knocks on the door.] Woman: [not opening the door] Yes? Voice: (mumbling) Mrs. Arlsburgerhhh? Woman: Who? Voice: (mumbling) Mrs. Johannesburrrr? Woman: Who is it? Voice: [pause] Flowers. Woman: Flowers for whom? Voice: [long pause] Plumber, ma’am. Woman: I don’t need a plumber. You’re that clever mimic octopus, aren’t you? Voice: [pause] Candygram. Woman: Candygram, my foot. You get out of here before I call the police. You’re the mimic octopus, and you know it. Voice: Wait. I-I’m only a landshark, ma’am. Woman: A landshark? Well…okay. [opens door] ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/50 "2011-08-18T02:06:40Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I embrace all molluscs from squid to snail. The molluscs embrace you too. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/51 "2011-08-18T03:51:58Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > The molluscs embrace you too. Did I just stumble into a hentai thread? ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/52 "2011-08-18T03:53:23Z")
“The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife,” indeed! Wonderpus powers, activate! Form of… a… er… I can make it look like I have feet! P.S. I know this is the mimic octopus and not the wonderpus, but they have similar behaviors and come on… I thought it was a good joke. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/53 "2011-08-18T14:42:30Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > The molluscs embrace you too. Yay! Last night my husband surprised me with a Netflix DVD he slipped into our queue: [Cuttlefish: Kings of Camouflage](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/kings-of-camouflage.html). Definitely worth checking out if you’re into weird and wonderful invertebrates. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/54 "2011-08-18T15:07:41Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Yay! > > Last night my husband surprised me with a Netflix DVD he slipped into our queue: [Cuttlefish: Kings of Camouflage](http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/nature/kings-of-camouflage.html). Definitely worth checking out if you’re into weird and wonderful invertebrates. That’s the Nova documentary, right? A fascinating show. I think it’s the one where the cuttlefish was displaying enticing patterns on one half of his body while romancing a female, and at the same time presenting a threatening display to another male on the other half of his body (which **TruCelt** referred to in post #18). Edit: I guess I could have just clicked on your link to see that it was the Nova episode! ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/55 "2011-08-18T15:26:04Z")
> [@BlackKnight](#): > > It’s well known that at least three of the past seven US presidents have actually been mimic octopodes. At least we know what one it wasn’t - the mimic octopus is smart ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/56 "2011-08-18T16:51:19Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > That’s the Nova documentary, right? A fascinating show. I think it’s the one where the cuttlefish was displaying enticing patterns on one half of his body while romancing a female, and at the same time presenting a threatening display to another male on the other half of his body (which **TruCelt** referred to in post #18). > > Edit: I guess I could have just clicked on your link to see that it was the Nova episode! That could well be. i thought it was an octopod, but it’s been a long time since I saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/57 "2011-08-18T17:06:27Z")
> [@Bumbershoot](#): > > That’s the Nova documentary, right? A fascinating show. I think it’s the one where the cuttlefish was displaying enticing patterns on one half of his body while romancing a female, and at the same time presenting a threatening display to another male on the other half of his body (which **TruCelt** referred to in post #18). > > Edit: I guess I could have just clicked on your link to see that it was the Nova episode! Yes, it was Nova, but I don’t remember that particular bit. They did show them mating, and the smaller, weaker males used their camouflage to disguise themselves as a female so they could slip in unnoticed while the bigger males were fighting. Apparently the ladies value this cleverness because they mate more often with the little guys. The mating light show is spectacular, though. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/58 "2011-08-18T17:31:01Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Yes, it was Nova, but I don’t remember that particular bit. They did show them mating, and the smaller, weaker males used their camouflage to disguise themselves as a female so they could slip in unnoticed while the bigger males were fighting. Apparently the ladies value this cleverness because they mate more often with the little guys. > > The mating light show is spectacular, though. Maybe I’m the one who’s mis-remembering. I have “Kings Of Camouflage” on DVD but I haven’t watched it in quite a while. I might be mixing up the scene you described with the one **TruCelt** described. I have another PBS special called “Encountering Sea Monsters” which has a segment on cuttlefish; I’ll watch it tonight to see if it has that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbershoot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbershoot/32/3428_2.png) [@Bumbershoot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbershoot)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/59 "2011-08-18T23:46:34Z")
Okay, I found the scene I was looking for. In an episode of _Nature_ called “Encountering Sea Monsters” there is a segment on the mating behavior of giant cuttlefish off the southwestern coast of Australia. From the narration: > [@](#): > > The males flash and ripple with aggression. Their control is so subtle that they can isolate and flex just the flank facing the opposing male. The other flank communicates a solid dependable side to any nearby female. The video footage clearly shows a male displaying waves of color moving across its skin on one side while the other side is a uniform dark color, and then changing which side was flashing as it moved around the other male. He wasn’t mating with the female yet; she was nearby, biding her time. “Encountering Sea Monsters” is available on Netflix, along with another episode of _Nature_, under the title “Nature: Ocean Wonders”. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725/60 "2011-08-18T23:51:59Z")
> [@Hogfather65](#): > > At least we know what one it wasn’t - the mimic octopus is smart Carter? 😕😕😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/todays-holy-shit-nature-is-stranger-than-fiction-entry/592725.md?page=4)