1. I'm Batman
Forget Ben Affleck, the vampire squid is a real caped crusader. With blood red eyes and a black cloak (made out of skin between its tentacles) this octopus uses glow-in-the-dark light-emitting cells to confuse predators and attract prey. Plus... it's got VAMPIRE in its name!
2. The Hungry Games
The giant octopus can grow to 13 metres long. That's 13 METRES. Or to put it another way, over 7 and a half times taller than Jennifer Lawrence. It must take a heck of a lot of fish to stop this huge beast being hungry. This is one opponent Katniss Everdeen wouldn't want to face in the Arena.
3. Dumbo
This cute Dumbo octopus might look like an elephant, but he has no problem flying across the sea floor. The fins on their grey head-shaped bodies not only make them look like everyone's favourite Disney elephant, but they also help them swim away when threatened.
4. Crouching Ninja, Hidden Snake
The mimic octopus wouldn't be out of place in a kung-fu movie. This speedy cephalopod can change its skin colour, texture, body shape and behavior in an instant, even hiding in a hole and impersonating a venomous sea-snake by wiggling two legs around.
5. Man of Blue Steel
The flamboyant cuttlefish may have more style than Derek Zoolander, but this is one cuttlefish you won't want to cuddle. This poisonous cuttlefish warns predators off with "flamboyant" displays involving vibrant hues and patterns.
6. Avatar
The glow-in-the-dark forests of Pandora have nothing on the firefly squid. Not only do their light-emitting bodies lure small prey, they also help attract mates and communicate with other squid. Found in deep-sea waters around Japan, the firefly squid light up fishing ports – creating a beautiful blue glow – as they gather in vast numbers to spawn.
7. The Coconut Job
This nutty octopus hides from predators by pretending to be a coconut. No, seriously. The veined octopus hides inside coconut shells to protect itself from predators. But if there are none around, it simply pretends to be one, wrapping its head and 6 of its tentacles together into a coconut shell shape, using the other two to sneak off, fooling other ocean-dwellers into thinking it's a floating coconut.
8. Lord of the Rings
Don't be deceived by its small size, this precious 8-inch octopus is deadlier than an army of orcs. The blue-ringed octopus warns off its enemies with pulsating bright blue rings all over its body. The octopus uses its powerful beak to pierce its prey's shell and inject its deadly saliva.
Cephalopods are amazing animals but their ocean homes are under threat from destructive fishing, polluting industries and climate change. Sign here to be a cephalopod superhero.
All gifs from Giphy.
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