HUNT for RED OCTO BER –BER +PUS
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:59 pm
HUNT for RED OCTO BER –BER +PUS
Yes, I have seen the report and video on Red Octopus escaping from Copper Rockfish nibbling “This happened on our dive today” and decided to help other divers to find, recognize and identify “Reds” or “ROs”.
Majority of divers know how to look for GPO or better known as Giant Pacific Octopus.
You look for piles of crab and clam shells and then you look for a den nearby and look for distinctive white suction cups. GPOs are usually large and easy to spot however their smaller cousins Red Octopus are frequently missed because divers often do not know what to look for.
I have learned from Jan K that if you know what you are looking for and where to look for the whole spectrum of critters opens up in front of your eyes.
If you want to see more information and pictures what I have learned from Jan K finding e.g. Juvenile King Crab, Wolf Eels, GPOs in unusual sightings go to: “Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K”.
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=22845
HOW TO SPOT AND IDENTIFY RED OCTOPUS (ROs):
What I have found out by experience is that you do not look for suction cups nor shell piles.
You first look for rough surfaces as I have noticed ROs love to blend in rough surfaces. I will show you the pictures.
Second, you look for slight discrepancies in the color from the background.
Third, you “train your eye” or if you want “train your brain” to recognize ROs eye. Yes, that is how I find them frequently.
The best way to distinguish juvenile GPO from ROs is by looking under the Octo eye. If it has three sticking out freckles then it is ROs.
Also it seem like when you either put video light or fire strobes the Red Octopus starts changing color from the background (grey, yellow or brown) to more red and maybe that is why they are call Reds.
Here are the pictures. Please note that the first picture in a sequence is the most important.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom.
Sighting Number 1 Sequence: Sighting Number 2 Sequence: Sighting Number 3 Sequence: I hope that my little Red Octo Friends / Comrades will not get upset with me that I reported on them to NWDC and will not send a little Red Octo Army after me. God forbid.
Yes, I have seen the report and video on Red Octopus escaping from Copper Rockfish nibbling “This happened on our dive today” and decided to help other divers to find, recognize and identify “Reds” or “ROs”.
Majority of divers know how to look for GPO or better known as Giant Pacific Octopus.
You look for piles of crab and clam shells and then you look for a den nearby and look for distinctive white suction cups. GPOs are usually large and easy to spot however their smaller cousins Red Octopus are frequently missed because divers often do not know what to look for.
I have learned from Jan K that if you know what you are looking for and where to look for the whole spectrum of critters opens up in front of your eyes.
If you want to see more information and pictures what I have learned from Jan K finding e.g. Juvenile King Crab, Wolf Eels, GPOs in unusual sightings go to: “Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K”.
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=22845
HOW TO SPOT AND IDENTIFY RED OCTOPUS (ROs):
What I have found out by experience is that you do not look for suction cups nor shell piles.
You first look for rough surfaces as I have noticed ROs love to blend in rough surfaces. I will show you the pictures.
Second, you look for slight discrepancies in the color from the background.
Third, you “train your eye” or if you want “train your brain” to recognize ROs eye. Yes, that is how I find them frequently.
The best way to distinguish juvenile GPO from ROs is by looking under the Octo eye. If it has three sticking out freckles then it is ROs.
Also it seem like when you either put video light or fire strobes the Red Octopus starts changing color from the background (grey, yellow or brown) to more red and maybe that is why they are call Reds.
Here are the pictures. Please note that the first picture in a sequence is the most important.
Please click on each picture you want to zoom in. Twice for largest zoom.
Sighting Number 1 Sequence: Sighting Number 2 Sequence: Sighting Number 3 Sequence: I hope that my little Red Octo Friends / Comrades will not get upset with me that I reported on them to NWDC and will not send a little Red Octo Army after me. God forbid.