Pygmy Octomom!!! (Emmy)

 

Today, we visited a mudflat in Cholla Bay when the ocean pulled back. In this mudflat, we found many clams, shells, crabs, scallops, cockerels, a stingray, and two octopi! The entire mudflat was covered in the current and previous homes of many crabs and mollusks. One of the most famous of the mollusks found today was the Moonsnails. 

The mudflats are home to many creatures! The most exciting find of the day was a Pygmy Octopus covering up her eggs. Upon retrieval of the critter, the eggs began to hatch! Tons of tiny pygmy octopus flew out of the mother's home shell. As shown in the video attached, the mother protected her young and they continued to hatch all around her and swim around the container. 

A pygmy octopus can be found on muddy beaches along the shore. Oftentimes they are hiding under debris, trash, clam shells, rocks, and any empty containers around. Todays octomom was found inside an empty bivalve and her small black eggs were lay in the same area. Pygmy octopus are usually tan or pinkish but can change color based on their situation as a defense mechanism! 

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