How and what does an octopus eat

This is because the plus octopus species that are known to exist throughout the world all evolved specifically to survive in their immediate habitat.

By extension, this means that they became adept at hunting other creatures that share their environment. An example of this would be deep-water dwelling octopuses. These include the dumbo octopuses. These creatures can live at depths exceeding 5, feet. Their diet consists of worms, mollusks, and crustaceans which also inhabit those depths.

If any cat owners are reading this, they are familiar more than most with the concept of finickiness when it comes to the eating habits of certain animals.

After all, cats have been known to realize quasi hunger strikes if their owners switched brands of cat food. Octopuses, in general, are not picky eaters in the sense that they will eat a wide range of animals as has been described above. However, observations do indicate that individual octopuses do express favoritism for certain foods.

For example, it is not uncommon to spot octopuses of the same species living in close proximity to each other each seeking out different species of local prey. Of course, for this to take place the octopuses must be residing in an area which is bountiful in prey.

In situations were prey becomes scarce, octopuses do not hesitate to adapt to the prey that is available. In other words, they can be selective about their favorite food but not to the extent of being exclusive when times are tough.

Also, when octopuses are displaced from their normal habitat they will demonstrate an ability to adapt to the new prey found in their new environment. The exception to this is when octopuses are moved to live in captivity. When the process of captivity is handled inappropriately, the octopus will be stressed. If the handling is careless, the creature might be physically injured in the process. This would aggravate the stress that much further.

Under those circumstances, the octopus may stop eating until it feels safe in its new environment or it has recovered from its ordeal. This has led to inaccurate information circulating among octopus enthusiasts that octopuses in captivity experience high incident rates of malnutrition which could lead to illness and even death. This scares some people from considering octopuses as pets. The reality is that if octopuses are handled with care and attention, they can transition quite well into a captive setting without experiencing eating problems.

It is just a matter of reducing the stress on them as early as possible. They can also use the webbed, sticky suction cups on their arms to seize prey and prevent them from escaping. The suction cups are also important for the tasting of food eaten by octopuses. Most sources of food that octopuses prey on are enclosed in shells, which need to be removed before consumption. If the octopus is unable to remove a prey from its shell, it will release a nerve toxin. Octopuses have an instinctive way of determining the amount of toxin required for each type of prey.

They are also adapted to see through murky waters, which is an adaptation that gives them an advantage over their prey. Octopuses can also blend in and camouflage well with their environment, making it possible to approach prey without being noticed. An octopus hunting its prey. Sharon Omondi December 11 in Environment. Puma, Cougar, Or Mountain Lion? It is believed that they have some instinctive connection for what they should do to benefit from the meal in front of them. Most of the time Octopus will feed during the nighttime.

They are able to see well in the dark, murky waters which gives them the advantage over their prey. They will hunt during the day though when they are very hungry and an opportunity presents itself.

They are amazing predators. Since they can blend in so well to their surroundings they are able to get close to prey without being recognized. The use of the suction cups on the arms is another way that they are able to capture their prey.

There is a sticky type of residue here among the webbing that makes it virtually impossible for the prey to get away. The foods that they do consume go through the esophagus and then directly up into the brain area. Then they are carried back down the body into the digestive system. When octopuses bite their prey, they inject a powerful venom into it. Most living creatures tend to eat more before they lay eggs or give birth. They spend all of their time trying to defend the eggs from predators, keeping them clean, and at the right temperature.

By the time the young are born, they are close to death themselves. Instead, the young offspring go to the surface of the water where they will hunt for plankton.