The Telescope Octopus
Amphitretus pelagicus is a species of pelagic octopus found in tropical regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is transparent, almost colorless and has 8 arms. It is the only octopus to have tubular eyes, hence its common name.
June 24, 2011, 2:58pm
January 14, 2011, 9:32am
Clagg, Lord of the Deep, 2009.
Via @alex.
October 07, 2010, 4:39pm
In 1898, the steamship Valdivia left Hamburg for a nine month scientific voyage to the Atlantic, Indian and Great Southern oceans [map]. Known as the German Deep-Sea Expedition, the mission was led by Leipzig University Professor of Zoology, Carl Chun and investigated chemical, zoological and physical characteristics encountered in the oceans during the voyage.
The Valdivia was equipped with state of the art biological and chemical laboratories, a first-class scientific library and ample storage space for marine specimens collected while at sea. With these specialist ship fittings and overall expedition objectives as well as vessel size, the Valdivia resembled the famous HMS Challenger from the 1870s, which had essentially established oceanography as a scientific discipline.
And like the Challenger expedition, the German Deep-Sea Expedition gave rise to an extensive series of post-voyage scientific publications. Professor Chun contributed a book on cephalopods (with a corresponding illustration/photograph atlas) to a multi-volume work called ‘Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der deutschen Tiefse eexpedition auf dem Dampfer Valdivia’ (From the Depths of the World Sea: Descriptions of the German Deep Sea Expedition).
All words and images via Bibliodyssey.
September 07, 2010, 5:15pm
Goldman Sachs unveiled their new rebranding effort this morning.
May 10, 2010, 11:42am
Octopus Games, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1840-1842.
May 03, 2010, 5:25pm
Katie and Sebastian meet the Anachronism.
April 23, 2010, 10:25am
More blatant cephalopodsploitation in advertising, this time for dental floss.
August 19, 2009, 10:15am
Forthcoming album art for formerly Austin-based art-doom band Giant Squid. Drawn by Maxx/Zero Girl artist Sam Keith.
August 17, 2009, 4:36pm
Signs of the apocalypse, right at home. Thanks again, Google.
May 19, 2009, 11:13am
Another day, another knifefight to the death with a giant octopus.
Via HeyOkay.
May 07, 2009, 5:03pm
Another day, another fight to the death with a giant octopus.
Men Magazine, January 1956
Illustrated by Frank Soltesz
May 04, 2009, 9:39am
Fatal Adventure with an Octopus
May 01, 2009, 1:32pm
There is a certain etiquette that must be followed for fans that wish to throw octopuses onto the ice.
Beforehand, an octopus should be boiled for at least 20 minutes on high heat with a little lemon juice and white wine. This will mask the creature’s odor as well as reducing the amount of slime. A raw dead thrown octopus would result in a smelly ball that would stick to the ice upon impact and possibly leave an inky stain, while a well-boiled octopus will bounce and roll across the surface of the ice.
After the octopus has been properly prepared it must be smuggled into the ice arena, as it is against the law in Detroit (and other NHL cities) for a fan to throw anything onto the ice during a game. A preferred method is to wrap the octopus in plastic (a trash bag will do) and then wrap the package around one’s middle section to give the appearance of a beer belly.
The most appropriate time to throw an octopus onto the ice is after the national anthem is sung or after the Red Wings have scored a goal. The octopus must be thrown onto the ice surface in an area that is clear of all players. It is never acceptable to aim for opposing players. Tactics are also used to protect the identity of octopus-throwers from arena security. It is common practice for the hurler to ask the surrounding people to stand up with him to shroud the task in anonymity.
Experienced throwers grasp the octopus around the middle of its arms with the octopus’s head (or more correctly, its mantle) hanging down near the thrower’s knee and then swings the octopus with an overarm motion. Holding the octopus by the ends of its arms prior to the throw may result in the mantle of the octopus breaking off during the wind-up.
After successfully participating in this peculiar tradition, the octopus thrower is left with a tell-tale indicator: stinky hands. It is advisable to bring along a wet wipe and a slice of lemon to assist in removing the odor.
Via Wikipedia. Thanks to @kevrotti.
April 24, 2009, 12:52pm
