I had just gotten on the beach at Blind Pass Captiva when I heard an “Eeeek!”.
It’s an OCTOPUS!
I ran over to see Logan showing his family a cute little PYGMY OCTOPUS hanging on to a FIGHTING CONCH.
Did you know that a PYGMY OCTOPUS is a mollusk? Yes! It’s related to the animals that create all the beautiful shells like clams and gastropods (WHELKS and CONCHS) but does not have a shell itself. It is in a class called Cephalopod. If you want more info, I found a really good source at The Cephalopod Page- Click Here.
If you didn’t see my video of baby OCTOPUS eggs hatching in April, you have to see this…CLICK HERE! It’s a sight I will never forget.
This is Logan learning all about how cool live OCTOPUSES really are in the wild.
He got to share this with his whole family- Poppy, Gramma, Julie (the one who “Eeeeked! LOL), Jayden, Eric, Logan and Dylan. He then gently put it back in the water after saving it from being on the beach.
There were a few shells to pick through on the sand bar jutting out from the Captiva side of the pass.
There was a pile of semi fresh shells on the right side of the jetty rock too.
Ohhhhh. A piece of JUNONIA!
And a little piece of a LION’S PAW…
Get ready to click on the next photo for some CYBER SHELLING!
This weekend may bring some really good shelling but don’t forget if you are in town to come by and see us at the Captiva Holiday Village golf cart parade on Saturday at 3 pm. It’ll be so much fun!
The Octopus is so interesting. I really appreciate your great info. I went back and looked at the egg hatching video again. It is so cool and just reaffirms how truly amazing Sanibel is. And of course I love the cyber shelling too. This was much needed on a stress filled work day. Thanks!
For me, too!!
That’s why you have to look really really good insde those whelks & tulips. Someone could be home & crawling around in your shell bag later on.
Yes AntKaybe is right! In 1970 when I was living in San Diego I took home a big moon snail shell from Mission Bay. It seemed to be completely empty, but when I put it under the faucet to rinse it out, a small octopus jumped out! It was a juvenile 2-spotted octopus. Luckily I had a saltwater aquarium already set up, and was able to pop him in there. I kept him for a couple of months, feeding him on pieces of fresh clam until I finally put him back where he belonged. He was a fascinating creature. I reckon this cute little guy was hiding out in that conch shell in the same way!
In that pic of all the shells, I see there’s a real pretty large cockle; would you mind going back & getting it for me?! heehee Just kidding!! :)
I LOVE Cyber shelling and wildlife!!
NO – I am not a “blog stalker” LOL
There’s a really amazing book, written in the 1960’s called, Kingdom of the Octopus. The book is so interesting. I didn’t know that chambered nautilus shells are the lowest on the Cephalopod order. The ones without a shell are “smarter” and more advanced. The book talks about how octopuses in test laboratories would sneak out of their tanks at night, cross the room, eat all the fish in the tank across the room, and return to their tanks. Wonderful creatures. Sadly, they mostly die after laying eggs.
Wow, I will have to check out that book, thanks for sharing.. Crazy that it could sneak out of its tank!!!
Such an interesting and cute little creature. Thank you for sharing such wonderful photographs. Hope you have a great weekend!!!
What an awesome find – the octopus – for that little boy! I bet it was the highlight of his trip to Sanibel.
I love the Cyber Shelling! Thanks — almost like being there….;)
Careful! If you hold the pygmy octos out of the water too long letting them crawl all over your hand, they bite with their uber sharp beaks! I have a scar on my left palm from one I was playing with one at Tigertail Beach (I was collecting shells & it crawled out of a fighting conch too!).