Are we sure it's not an weather octopus performing a live report?

November 23, 2024 7:18 PM

Giant Pacific Octopus is captured on video battling currents created by BC's recent bomb cyclone. Longer video from CBC and an excerpted video from Global cut with an interview with a representative from Ocean Networks Canada which captured the footage.

Ocean Networks Canada has a YouTube channel with 300+ videos including another view of a Giant Pacific Octopus interacting with a 10cm mesh cage that gives a feel for how large they are. Warning: they've set the videos on their channel to music.

posted by Mitheral (8 comments total)

Fun fact I learned today about octopuses... octopi... octopedes... whatever, is that they are colorblind! If they can be experts at camouflage and not even see in color, it's amazing to think about what's possible in this world!
posted by lock robster at 8:18 PM on November 23

Weather Channel correspondent Jim Cantoctore leaning into the storm
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:23 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]

By 10cm, do you mean the spacing between the wires? If so, I am never going near an ocean again. That thing was big enough to star in a bad movie of the week about stupid scientists doing something really stupid and the Octopus of Consequences eats them like human jerky.
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:24 PM on November 23 [1 favorite]

Poor thing!
posted by rpfields at 8:44 PM on November 23 [2 favorites]

including another view of a Giant Pacific Octopus interacting with a 10cm mesh cage that gives a feel for how large they are. Warning: they've set the videos on their channel to music.

A mesh cage covering a pile of pig bones. Watching giant black tentacles sift through a pile of bones was a little freaky.

_{The music on the video is fine, but the ominous, clanking Kohr-Ah theme music is all I'm hearing in my head right now.}
posted by Avelwood at 10:29 PM on November 23 [1 favorite]

I wonder why it was out trying to crawl through that strong current. It did look like a very “windy” day to be out. Was it out for fun, food, going to meet a date?
posted by waving at 5:38 AM on November 24

Are we sure it's not an weather octopus performing a live report?
If so, this needs a Michelle Kosinski moment, paddling a canoe and reporting on heavy rains and flooding, while a couple people casually walk beside her in ankle-deep water. The octopus appears to be struggling mightily, and a couple fish just casually swim by, perhaps doing a loop-the-loop to prove the point.
posted by xedrik at 7:29 AM on November 24

By 10cm, do you mean the spacing between the wires?

Yes. Each square is 10cm x 10cm. 4" x 4" in freedom units.
posted by Mitheral at 8:28 AM on November 24