January 14, 2011, 9:32am

Katie and Sebastian meet the Anachronism.

April 23, 2010, 10:25am

happy friday!

December 11, 2009, 1:48pm

via the very awesome The Ever So Strange Animal Almanac

August 20, 2009, 1:22pm

Please, think of the squid!

July 14, 2009, 1:00pm

Another day, another fight to the death with a giant octopus.

Men Magazine, January 1956

Illustrated by Frank Soltesz

May 04, 2009, 9:39am

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

Throwing the octopus is easy. More difficult is concealing the eight-legged creature until the toss is at hand, a skill that requires determination, luck and the ability to walk normally with 4 pounds of slimy cephalopod stuffed down your pants.

When Detroit drops in on Nationwide Arena Tuesday night in an attempt to further frustrate the Blue Jackets some among the Red Wings fans in attendance undoubtedly will have attempted to enter while packing octopus.

Some might even succeed, continuing a Detroit tradition dating to 1952 of throwing octopi on the ice during Red Wings games.

“I just sell it. What they do with it is up to them,” said Frank Gonzalez, owner of Frank’s Fish & Seafood Market in Columbus.

What they do with it is the second hurdle. The common method is to sneak the octopus through the turnstiles by slipping it into your trousers, a technique that Gonzalez does not understand.

“I wouldn’t want something moving around down there when you’re moving around,” he said, smiling.

“They’ve been creative,” said Eric Granger, general manager of Nationwide Arena. “We’ve caught them Saran-wrapped to the body.”

Most contraband carriers get caught before they reach their seats, having failed to elude the authorities, who conduct bag searches for every game and event.

But fans are not required to drop their drawers, so the danger always exists.

“We have not had one octopus thrown this season,” officials said, adding that arena personnel know what to look for after witnessing octopi hit the ice during previous seasons.

Those caught carrying an octopus must surrender it before being allowed to enter. Anyone who passes detection and manages to heave an octopus gets the immediate heave-ho.

During the 1995 playoffs, two Detroit seafood sellers tossed a 38-pound octopus onto the ice during the national anthem before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. A year later, they tossed a 50-pounder during the conference finals. The blob ended up displayed on the hood of the Zamboni between periods.

April 22, 2009, 5:10pm

Return to the sea. The evolution of the whale and dolphin. [Click through for large]

April 22, 2009, 1:54pm

Three divers holding the largest catch of the 1963 World Octopus Wrestling Championships, a 57 pound North Pacific Giant Octopus.

-via Wikipedia.

January 26, 2009, 9:12am

The “Globular Blue Eyes” are worth the price of admission (which is only your obviously worthless time). But definitely stick it out for the choice bioluminescence footage around 3:11. Try to look past the questionable font choices. Vampire squid win again.

-Thanks to @GeoffG

January 14, 2009, 9:28am