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MBARI celebrates Cephalopod Week 2016

A Dumbo octopus swims through the water in Monterey Canyon. Image (c) MBARI

MBARI celebrates Cephalopod Week 2016

Cirrate octopuses are graceful denizens of the deep sea, arranged in a montage reminiscent of dancers in a Busby Berkeley musical. Image (c) 2016 MBARI
Cirrate octopuses are graceful denizens of the deep sea. In this photomontage, cirrate octopuse images have been digitally arranged in a pattern reminiscent of dancers in a Busby Berkeley musical. Image: © 2016 MBARI

Cephalopods (the animal group that includes octopuses and squids) have fascinated human beings for thousands of years. In the last two decades marine biologists have discovered many new species of cephalopods and documented a variety of intriguing behaviors and adaptions within this diverse group. This week MBARI joins the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Science Friday, and a number of other organizations in celebrating these animals as part of Cephalopod Week 2016.

Here are a few of the articles, images, and videos posted by Cephalopod Week participants so far:


Just in case you haven’t gotten your fill of cephalobilia, here are links to stories and videos from previous Cephalopod Weeks:


Minoan clay bottle with octopus, created in about 1500 B.C (Artifact from the Archaeological Museum in Herakleion; photograph by Wolfgang Sauber/Wikimedia)
Minoan clay bottle with octopus motif, created in about 1,500 B.C (Artifact from the Archaeological Museum in Herakleion, photographed by Wolfgang Sauber/released through Wikimedia)