LOUISVILLE, 2022 —Rich Strike with Sonny Leon enters the winner’s circle after overcoming 80-1 odds to win the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
While most octopuses camouflage themselves in the face of danger, the sand octopus (Octopus kaurna) buries itself.🐙
Unlike many of its relatives, this inhabitant of southern Australian and Tasmanian waters is unable to blend in with its surroundings. For a hasty getaway, the sand octopus shoots jets of water into the ocean floor to loosen up the sand, then burrows itself beneath the surface. Once below, it lines the walls with a layer of mucus, which acts like a “glue” that keeps the grains of sand in place, preventing its hiding spot from losing its shape.
