How Does An Octopus Change Colour?

How Does An Octopus Change Colour?

Octopus Are The Undisputed Masters Of Mimicry But How Do They Do It?

Dazzling colour changes and perfect camouflage make octopus a favourite with everybody diving in Phuket but how do they perform this magic trick, well it’s not mirrors, sorcery or witchcraft it’s a complex combination of muscle, nerves, brain and skin pigments. By far the most common octopus we see when diving in Phuket is the day octopus (octopus cyanea) so we’ll base our facts around this very convenient creature (we don’t do night dives).

Chromataphores

That’s what the cells are called, octopus have thousands of different colour chromataphores to every square inch of skin. Think of them as tiny balloons filled with coloured ink. The ‘ink balloons’ on most octopus come in black, brown, red, orange and yellow. The octopus sends a signal from the brain via the nerves to the muscle surrounding the balloons. The muscles contract the base of the balloon which enlarges the surface area and pushes the pigment to the top – simple!

As you can see from the video. The colour changes aren’t restricted to just one blanket change but any area of the body can be changed to any available colour to suit its needs. It makes the chameleon, an animal renowned for its colour changing ability look… well, rubbish.

Colourblind!

Yep, that’s right an animal that can instantaneously change the colour of its skin to perfectly match its environment, dazzle predators or signal to other octopuses is completely colourblind. Which makes the ability all the more incredible. Scientists think that their skin is possibly light sensitive. Suggesting that they can somehow see with their skin.

Game Of Shadows

Not only can they use camouflage to hide from predators but they can produce a cloud of ink to hide an escape. Again as with all things octopus it can do more than just randomly shoot out the ink. They can add mucus to the ink which forms individual shadows in the water that almost exactly matches the animals body mass. Predators have been seen to attack these clouds while the octopus slips away.

Camouflaged And Not So Camouflaged Octopus

Camouflaged And Not So Camouflaged Octopus

Intelligent?

It’s suggested they have the relative intelligence of a domestic cat – nothing to boast about about in my opinion, our office cat is fairly dense. We’ve all heard about octopus predicting world cup results, escaping from the impossible and learning how to unscrew jars but gauging an animals intelligence to how our brain works is extremely difficult.

Asking an octopus to solve a simple maths question would probably result in a blank weary stare as an answer but maybe think about reversing the roles. If an octopus asked us to do something that’s straight forward to them such as changing the colour of your skin to red and white stripes, producing a cloud of toxins from your anus (oh oh, can do!) or throwing away your left arm all but the most determined/disturbed of us would come up short – now who’s the idiot…

Live Fast, Die Young!

Most animals with any level of intelligence live for at least a couple of years and in most cases a lot longer. Sadly it’s not the case for our day octopus. They have a lifespan of only 12 to 15 months. They grow very fast and when young can increase their body weight by 5% a day!

When mating the octopus around Phuket are far less timid than usual. Their visual signals to each other are mesmerising to watch but unfortunately it’s a bitter sweet moment. The display signals the final phase of both sexes lives. The female will find a hole to lay and guard her eggs and will die as soon as they’ve hatched. The male will still carry on for a little while killing females softly with his love but will soon go belly up.

Angry And Frightened Colour Changes

Angry And Frightened Colour Changes

High Protein Diet

Octopus are veracious predators and need plenty of food to fuel their incredibly fast growth rates. Crabs and other crustaceans are quickly enveloped in a seemingly unfair number of arms then bitten with the parrot like beak which is also covered in a toxic saliva (all cephalopods are believed to be venomous to a certain degree). They also have a radula (freaky rasping tongue) that can drill through shell fish then inject toxins to make it release its body from the shell.

Finding Octopus

The easiest solution is to rely on our keen eyed guides and instructors. However there are a couple of tell tale signs to look out for. If you see a hole in the reef surrounded by freshly moved rubble and some random crab and snail shells then it’s probably an octopus lair. Small groupers will follow octopus when they’re hunting. So if you see an unusually large congregation all staring at the same place then there could be an octopus nearby.

Find Your octopus With Local Dive Thailand

By Justin Hartrey

I've been enjoying the incredible marine life in our oceans for over 25 years. 13 years ago I became a PADI professional, hoping to introduce as many people as possible to the incredible beauty of the seas.

Having been fortunate enough to dive all over south east and especially Thailand, I enjoy sharing my experience and passion on this blog.

Posted in Rare & Peculiar Critters on .

Popular Services

private speedboat diving in phuket

Phuket Private Diving Tour

A Phuket private diving tour is sometimes the only way to beat the crowds. We try our very best on our own very comfortable dive boat MV Kebsup. It's not always possible so occasionally it can feel a little crowded. Most divers enjoy the opportunity to meet fellow like minded people but some don't. For those who're not quite as gregarious as others then you can charter your own speedboat. A private boat charter is the only way to ensure yo [...]

Find Out More
snorkeling and freediving in the crystal clear waters of phuket

Free Diving And Snorkelling In Phuket

The warm, clear waters around Phuket make for excellent free diving and snorkelling tours. Local Dive Thailand won't treat you as an add on. You'll get the same care and attention as the divers. Small groups are the norm, you won't be chucked in on one of the packed speedboat snorkelling sites. Our high quality guides will give you a briefing on safety and on all the wonderful marine life that you can expect to see. Snorkelers and [...]

Find Out More

Daily Schedules

M/V Kepsub Schedule

Jobs @ Local Dive Thailand

Local Dive Thailand is one of Phuket's fatest growing & most vibrant scuba diving operations, we are always looking for quality staff to join us, so feel free to have a look at our jobs listing page.

Job Listings

Contact LDT

Local Guides, Local Knowledge, Local Experiences

Don't trust your diving to amateurs or freshly minted dive guides, dive with local experienced experts from Local Dive Thailand. Our Scuba Diving Phuket Tours will take you to see the rarest of the rare critters, you will be amazed by the macro life our guides can find, in the secret places only they know. To put it in perspective, if you were going to climb Mount Everest you would certainly hire a local sherpa to lead the way & keep you safe. Diving is similar because there is absolutely no substitute for local experience & local knowledge, Local Dive Thailand's guides are Phuket's Sherpa's of the Andaman Sea!

Learn More About Us

Scuba Diving Phuket, Phi Phi & Thailand

When talking about Scuba Diving in Phuket, you should believe the hype, many seasons we have had Whale Sharks grace us on our regular and easy to reach dive sites and on a good day you can add Sea Horses, Sea Moths, Snake Eels, Frog Fish & Octopus to what you can see on any given dive and so much more. If we are heading to Phi Phi Island for the day, you can possibly see Hawksbill Sea Turtles and Black Tip Reef Sharks, also don't forget the King Cruiser, 84 meters of beautiful wreck and the most amazing reef nursery for fish and nudibranch. Local Dive Thailand day trip tours to these locations are not to be missed when you are scuba diving Phuket, get in touch with us and book an 'awesome' day of diving.

Book Your Day Trip

Related News From Local Dive Thailand

See why we are Thailand's leading scuba diving Phuket tour provider, stay up to date & watch out for news & special liveaboard offers!

cape panwa in phuket has great scenery Phuket Sights & Fun

Cape Panwa Phuket – A Hidden Gem

Cape Panwa is a spit of land in the south of Phuket. If escaping the crowds is the goal on your Phuket holiday then it could be just the place for you. You're not going to get the riotous excitement of Patong or even the low key nightlife in Karon or Kata. What you will get is stunning scenery away from the hustle and noise of the other Phuket beach resorts. Not much but that's why you would stay there. Small scenic beaches, quaint res [...]

Read Full Story
Things to do In Phuket Golden Buddha Phuket Sights & Fun

Top 10 Things To Do In Phuket

Phuket has plenty of things to do and the surrounding area has stunning landscapes, beaches and crystal clear water.There are some days when you need a break from diving. Getting out and about rather than just staying in your chosen beach resort is highly recommended. So if you've already covered the diving day trips and a Similan Island liveaboard then here's some alternative options in no particular order. Phang Nga bay has hundreds of [...]

Read Full Story
phuket diving discounts Diving Discounts & Special Offers

Phuket Diving Discount For Thai And Expat

Life on Phuket is a little strange at the moment. The crowds are gone and it feels very deserted but we're still diving! For those working here both Thai and expat, it's a difficult situation and every opportunity to take the mind away from worries and enjoy yourself is a welcome distraction. There probably couldn't be a better time to visit our beautiful island. The beaches are deserted, view points and usually crowded areas such as Promt [...]

Read Full Story

Local Dive Thailand Office In Phuket


Find Us On Google Maps