Giant Pacific Octopus

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Wihopa Win

also referred to as GPO Enteroctopus dofieini Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Mollusca Class: Cephalopda Order: Octopda Family: Octopodidae Genus: Enteroctopus Species E. dofieni Photo by Wihopa Win Introduction For seven weeks I will be visiting the Point Defiance zoo and … Continue reading →

Definitioner

Anthropocentric: Adj. Considering human beings as the most significant entity of the universe. "That college grad is awfully anthropocentric."
Tyrosinase: Noun. (Biochemistry) An oxidizing enzyme, occurring in plant and animal tissues, that catalyzes the aerobic oxidation of tyrosine into melanin and other pigments. ‘The octopus can shoot the ink out in little blobs that serve as decoys, or it can shoot it out in one big mass to obscure a quick getaway. To top it off, the ink contains tyrosinase, a compound that impairs smell and taste, which further confuses the predator.’ Horton, Jennifer. "How Octopuses Work" 13 March 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/octopus.htm> 14 May 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html
Salivary Papilla: Noun. Papilla that produce a viscid, watery fluid that functions in the tasting, chewing, and swallowing of food, and starts the digestion of starches. “And if these tools don't do the trick, it also has a tooth-covered organ called the salivary papilla that it can use to drill into shells. The papilla's bodily secretion also erodes the shell and then weakens the prey so it can be consumed.” Horton, Jennifer. "How Octopuses Work" 13 March 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/octopus.htm> 14 May 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html
Radula: Noun. A chitinous band in the mouth of most mollusks, set with numerous, minute, horny teeth and drawn backward and forward over the floor of the mouth in the process of breaking up food. “This beak is useful for breaking open clam shells and tearing apart flesh. Next to the beak is the radula, a barbed tongue the octopus uses to scrape an animal out of its shell once the shell is opened.” Horton, Jennifer. "How Octopuses Work" 13 March 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/octopus.htm> 14 May 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html
Hectocotylus: Noun. A modified arm of the male of certain cephalopods that is used to transfer sperm to the female. “The male octopus has a modified arm called the hectocotylus, which is about a meter long and holds rows of sperm.” Horton, Jennifer. "How Octopuses Work" 13 March 2008. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://www.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/zoology/marine-life/octopus.htm> 14 May 2012. http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html
Chromatophore: Noun. 1. (Zoology) A cell containing pigment, especially one that through contraction and expansion produces a temporary color, as in cuttlefishes. 2. (Botany) One of the colored plastids in plant cells. “The skin of an octopus is dotted with cells called chromatophores. Each chromatophore contains one of four pigments: yellow, red, brown, or black. The pigment is visible only when the chromatophore is contracted. An octopus is able to vary in color by contracting only certain chromatophores at any one time.” “Octopus" 22 April 2008. AnimalPlanet.com. <http://animals.howstuffworks.com/marine-life/octopus-info.htm> 14 May 2012 http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html

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Category Archives: Octopodiae

Giant Pacific Octopus